Polytetrafluoroethylene Fibre - Material Information

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a high-performance fluoropolymer distinguished by its remarkable chemical inertness, low friction coefficient, and excellent dielectric properties. As a semi-crystalline polymer with a high melting point and low surface energy, PTFE fibres are uniquely suited for extreme chemical and temperature environments where other polymers fail.

Material Overview

PTFE consists of repeating tetrafluoroethylene (C₂F₄) units, resulting in a fully fluorinated backbone that provides outstanding stability and resistance to nearly all reagents. The fibre’s thermal decomposition begins around 508 °C, and it remains dimensionally stable up to approximately 260 °C (Wang et al., 2017). PTFE exhibits a dielectric constant near 2.1 and an exceptionally low dissipation factor, making it one of the best electrical insulators among polymeric materials. Although the polymer is difficult to process due to its high melt viscosity, recent advances have introduced melt-spinnable copolymers, enabling continuous fibre fabrication with enhanced mechanical properties and crystallinity (Lim et al., 2022).

Applications and Advantages

PTFE fibres are prized for their use in high-temperature seals, chemical filtration systems, and electrical insulation. Their hydrophobic nature (contact angle ~120°) and smooth, low-friction surfaces make them ideal for anti-adhesive and self-lubricating applications. Recent developments include glass fibre/PTFE composites exhibiting low dielectric constants (? = 2.33) and high thermal stability for high-frequency communication devices (Chen & Magnus, 2023). Electrospun PTFE fibres have shown superior mechanical strength and chemical resistance, maintaining structural integrity even after immersion in strong acids and bases at 100 °C (Feng et al., 2016). These characteristics make PTFE fibres critical in advanced electronics, aerospace, and chemical process industries.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies high-purity PTFE fibres for research and engineering applications requiring chemical inertness and electrical insulation. These materials are available in customizable dimensions and laboratory-ready quantities. Discover PTFE and other fluoropolymers using the Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Chen, W., & Magnus, P. D. (2023). Glass fiber/polytetrafluoroethylene composite with low dielectric constant and thermal stability for high-frequency application. Ceramics International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.06.099
• Lim, T. S., Kim, D., Lee, U. H., Nam, I., Kwak, Y. J., & Yeang, B. J. (2022). Polytetrafluoroethylene fiber fabrication from the continuous melt-spinning process and its properties. Textile Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/00405175221101656
• Wang, R., Xu, G., & He, Y. (2017). Structure and properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers. E-Polymers, 17(3), 189–198. https://doi.org/10.1515/EPOLY-2016-0059
• Feng, Y., Xiong, T., Jiang, S., Liu, S., & Hou, H. (2016). Mechanical properties and chemical resistance of electrospun polytetrafluoroethylene fibres. RSC Advances, 6, 24823–24829. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA27676D
• Venkateswarlu, G., Sharada, R., & Rao, M. B. (2014). Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based composites. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 6(7), 15–22.