What is PTFE? Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is another one of those wonderful things that was discovered by complete accident. In 1938, Roy Plunkett of DuPont was attempting to make a new chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant but accidentally stumbled across a waxy, white material that was oddly slippery. So slippery in fact, that it was recorded in the 1939 Guinness Book of Records as having “the lowest coefficient of static and dynamic friction of any solid”. The discovery paved the way for Kinetic Chemicals (owned by DuPont) to register the Teflon® trademark in 1945.

The Uses

Since its discovery, it has been used in thousands of applications for a collection of reasons. Anything from dental floss to pyrotechnics and even surgery. In fact, it has literally helped save lives. Since the 1960’s, it is probably most known for being used on non-stick cookware such as frying pans. This continues to this day, with EMC coating cookware products on a daily basis.

The Benefits

What’s more, the beneficial properties are extensive. In our world of metal finishing, the most relevant of these include hydrophobicity, low friction, chemical resistance, dielectric strength, electrical insulation, food grade compliance, temperature tolerance and wear resistance. All of these properties provide coatings that contain PTFE a wide spectrum of applications.

PTFE Experts

PTFE is found throughout the coating brands that we apply here at EMC. Including, and not limited to; Excellube, Xylan®, Molykote® & Resilon®. To see the benefits first hand, or to just understand more about PTFE, please get in touch with East Midland Coatings Ltd.