Polytetrafluoroethylene

Description

A solid white polymer that is resistant to adhesion, heat, oxidation, light and chemicals. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was accidentally discovered in 1938 by Roy Plunkett at DuPont during an attempt to synthesize tetrafluoroethylene. The new polymer was a soft waxy material that could be molded into shapes then sintered with heat to form a hard solid. It was marketed as Teflon® by DuPont in 1943. PTFE is a soft, opaque material that is unaffected by acids, alkalis, and organic solvents. It is widely used for containers in chemical plants, for rockets, bearings, gaskets, and for non-stick frying pan coatings. PTFE is used for stain-resistant, water-repellent coatings on textiles. It can also be prepared as ribbonlike fibers, which are woven, knitted, felted or braided. Additionally, GORE-TEX® is prepared from a microporous Teflon® film laminated on a polyester fabric.

Synonyms and Related Terms

PTFE; TFE; poly(tetrafluoroethylene); politetrafluoroetileno (Esp.); politetrafluoroetilene (It.); politetrafluoretileno (Port.); poly(ethylene tetrafluoride); tetrafluoroethene polymer

Examples: Teflon® [DuPont]; Gore-Tex® [W.R.Gore Associates]; Fluon [ICI, Britain]; Halon [AlliedSignal]; M362;

Other Properties

Insoluble in water. Resistant to acids, alkalis and organic solvents.

Tenacity = 0.5-1.4 g/denier; Elongation = 15-32 %; Moisture regain = 0%

Composition	[-C2F4-]n
CAS	9002-84-0
Melting Point	300 (dec)
Density	2.1-2.3

Hazards and Safety

Does not burn in flame but evaporates above 215C and evolves HF.

Fisher Scientific: MSDS

Additional Information

G.Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:II. Man-made Fibres, 5th edition, Merrow Publishing Co., Durham, England, 1984. p.509.

Comparisons

General Characteristics of Polymers

Physical Properties for Selected Thermoplastic Resins

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Website address 1 Comment: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html

• Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology (older version called Man-made Fiber and Textile Dictionary, 1965), Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Charlotte NC, 1990

• J.Gordon Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:II Man-made Fibres, Merrow Publishing Co. , Durham, England

• Identification of Textile Materials, The Textile Institute, Manchester, England, 1985

• M.Kaufman, The First Century of Plastics, The Plastics and Rubber Institute, London, 1963

• Theodore J. Reinhart, 'Glossary of Terms', Engineered Plastics, ASM International, 1988