PTFE Coated vs. Laminated

Many years have passed since Roy Plunkett stumbled across PTFE, his new “invention”, in a DuPont laboratory way back in 1938.   Back then it was simply just a white powder that Mr Plunkett found in the bottom of a glass jar but now, we have progressed somewhat and are able to offer the crème de la crème in high performance PTFE products, using PTFE multilayer film laminate technology.  

The previous generation of high-performance materials involved PTFE coating of glass or aramid fabrics. Most of these grades are still the first choice of many people, due to their ability to outperform almost all other plastics, or materials in such demanding applications. 

The next generation of PTFE products though, is one which has taken performance to the next level, by allowing technology to have an impact on how PTFE is applied to fabrics.  Historically, PTFE is applied to a fabric by way of a dip coating process and repeating this, until the desired finish, or required amount of PTFE had been applied. This process though is very long and time consuming and depending upon the specific fabric required, could take days, even weeks to produce. With the film technology that is currently available for applying PTFE to woven substrates, it has taken away the endless hours needed for dip coating, potentially increasing production capacity, eliminating associated coating faults, whilst reducing the incredibly high energy costs to produce a coated fabric.

As remarkable as the new generation of products are, there is still a big demand for a standard grade coated fabric, where the need for a more expensive, technically superior product is not necessarily required. PTFE standard coated fabrics are still able to operate at 260 degrees centigrade, most are FDA Compliant- Suitable for use in direct food contact applications under the applicable requirements of 21CFR177.1550. The surface coating is still classed as chemically inert and will resist attack from almost all chemicals, except for a known few and in specific environments. The PTFE coated fabric is still an exceptional material and one which will stand up to most tests it comes up against.

Several comparisons can be made between the two styles of finished materials.  However, there are a number of notable benefits from one over the other, listed below are just some of them

PTFE COATED fabrics

  • Cost effective way of using PTFE/glass, whilst maintaining high performance levels
  • A wide range of colours can be made with relatively small MOQ’s
  • Coatings can be modified very easily to suit application.
  • Constant temperature range is still exceptionally wide and almost the same as a multilayer PTFE film laminate from –72°C up to +260°C constant (300°c intermittent)

PTFE Multi-layer film Laminates

  • Superior performance levels and increased life span.
  • Better wear and abrasion properties
  • 0% moisture, gas, or oil ingression
  • Wider operating temperature range, constant of 300+ degrees centigrade
  • Guaranteed electrical insulation, no “Pinholes” in multilayer laminate film.
  • Uniformed film thickness for a more even and consistent coverage of PTFE
  • Lasts far longer than regular PTFE coated fabrics, results in less down time and loss of efficiency.
  • Less expenditure on replacing finished products, due to much longer life span.

Visit our PTFE page for more info.

Author

Chris Bostock, PTFE Expert at THS industrial Textiles