PTFE for Industrial & Manufacturing Applications

PTFE coated fiberglass fabric has numerous industrial applications due to its non-stick properties, heat resistance, and chemical resistance. Its key industrial uses include:

• Food Processing: Conveyor belts for baking and cooking, oven liners, baking sheets and heat sealing of food packaging.
• Packaging Industry: Release sheets for heat sealing machines, conveyor belts for packaging lines, and heat shrink tunnels.
• Textile Industry: Digital printing processes, drying processes, and lamination of textiles.
• Chemical Industry: Gaskets and seals for equipment, protective clothing, and linings for tanks and pipes.
• Electrical Industry: Insulation for wiring and cables and circuit board manufacturing.
• Aerospace and Automotive: Heat shielding, insulation, and release fabrics for composite molding.
• Construction and Architecture: Tensioned membrane structures for architectural applications.
• Industrial Belting: Conveyor belts for many different industrial processes.

PTFE coated fiberglass fabric is essential in any industry requiring materials with exceptional heat resistance, chemical resistance and non-stick properties.

PTFE is generally classified as either filled or unfilled (virgin). Filled PTFE contains materials added to modify its mechanical and electrical properties. Common fillers may include fiberglass, carbon or graphite, which increase the strength of PTFE products while maintaining its core beneficial properties. Unfilled PTFE is virgin or pure PTFE without additives or fillers.

PTFE is used in many applications requiring high temperature resistance, non-stick release properties, electrical insulation or chemical and weather resistance. Its versatility makes PTFE an invaluable material across numerous industries from food processing to aerospace. Perhaps the most well-known consumer application is non-stick cookware, with PTFE’s industrial applications more extensive and diverse.

A key component of PTFE is fluorine. When considering where fluorine is most prevalent for mining, it’s crucial to focus on the mineral fluorite (fluorspar), which is the primary source.

Fluorite is primarily found in China, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Mongolia.

When considering the overall cost of PTFE, one must consider many factors including the mining and extraction of fluorite from specific regions, the cost of formulation of the chemical PTFE and the cost of manufacturing PTFE in its many forms such as sheets, rods, tubes, tapes and coatings. For example, manufacturing sheets of PTFE requires expensive specialized coating equipment and labor to operate the equipment.