PTFE Rod is an extremely versatile engineering plastic that has many important performance advantages over other materials and has helped PTFE Rod become one of the most important engineering plastic materials available at the moment.

PTFE Rod and its features
One key important advantage of PTFE Rod is its operating temperature range, it can easily out perform other engineering plastics by being able to perform continuously at -250°C, right up to an amazing plus 250°C. Another important advantage of PTFE Rod is its outstanding co-efficient of friction, PTFE is in the record books as having one of the lowest friction values known to man. PTFE also has excellent acid and chemical resistance. Another feature of PTFE is its ability to set by or due to compression. PTFE has excellent electrical resistance. PTFE is also water repellent and is often used in the manufacture of modern high performing, water repellent and breathable clothing.

PTFE Rod and Applications
PTFE is excellent for low friction bearings, bushes, rollers and pulleys. PTFE is also almost exclusively used in cryogenic components due to its ultra low operating temperatures. PTFE Rod is regularly used for seals. PTFE Rod has become a very important engineering plastic used within the aerospace industry and aeronautics. PTFE is often used within the food industry companies. Another useful application over the years has been in the use of product or component handles due to its resistance to heat and heat transfer. When an application for electrical resistance becomes too high for other materials, PTFE Rod can fill a very important gap.

PTFE Rod and it's Advantages
Because PTFE has such a low co-efficient of friction it offers a material that when used will reduce load and drag in bearings to improve efficiency and reduce frictional losses and PTFE will outlast other materials. Because PTFE Rod will set due to compression, PTFE seals will conform to mating components resulting in excellent sealing capacity. PTFE is reasonably easy to machine engineering plastic which helps with reduced machining costs and increased capacity and efficiency. PTFE is resistant to most acids allowing this material to be used in aggressive environments to where such materials as Polypropylene are unsatisfactory.

PTFE Rod Availability
Extruded PTFE Rod is available in diameters as small as 4mm and as large as 120mm. PTFE Rod is also available in lengths of 2m up to 100mm diameter which is the normal maximum diameter of extruded PTFE and then reduces in available produced lengths due to range availability being produced in molded rod.

PTFE Rod Additives
Although PTFE is an excellent material, PTFE Rod can further be enhanced by adding performance enhancers into the production process such as Molybdenum, Bronze, Graphite etc. This can further expand its suitability for other applications.

PTFE Rod Data Information
PTFE is a synthetic fluoropolymer. Maximum long term working temperature is plus 260°C. Maximum short term working temperature is plus 260°C. Melting point is plus 327°C. Co-efficient of friction is 0.08. Density is 2.18g/cm³

PTFE Rod Adhesive Details
Although PTFE is extremely slippery there are specialist adhesives produced specifically to bond PTFE to PTFE and also to bond PTFE to other materials. This usually involves a primer which etches the surface of the PTFE Rod to prepare the initial surface and the adhesive is then applied to complete the bonding process. It may be more complicated in terms of having a two part process than other bonding systems but if you require any assistance with adhesives for PTFE Rod, we recommend you contact an adhesive specialist which can be found on our adhesive information section.

PTFE Rod Important Details
There are a few characteristics regarding PTFE that may be helpful to be aware of:

PTFE Rod Surface Softness
PTFE Rod is softer than other engineering plastics such as Nylon etc, this may cause damage to the material if gripping or clamping in machine tools such as lathes or milling machine vices. Threading PTFE Rod would produce threads of limited strength.

PTFE Rod Expansion
PTFE Rod has a slightly higher than usual thermal expansion rate which means that components will increase or decrease in size due to temperature fluctuations.

PTFE Rod Bonding
As mentioned earlier, bonding PTFE Rod can be a little more involved than potentially with some other plastics.

PTFE Rod Weight
PTFE is much more dense than most other engineering plastics which will increase the weight over other engineering plastics.

Direct Plastics Online have a huge range of PTFE Rod in stock and have same day dispatch and PTFE Rod with free delivery.