PTFE (Teflon®)
The chemically inert one, and the slipperiest solid there is. Specified where nothing else survives the medium. In sheet, rod and tube.
PTFE typical properties
Figures are for virgin, unfilled PTFE stock shapes (Ensinger TECAFLON PTFE natural, with distributor datasheets where Ensinger publishes no figure). These are typical values, not a specification. The datasheet behind each figure is linked in its row: the manufacturer’s where one publishes the figure, a distributor’s otherwise. Figures vary by supplier and test method, so confirm against the datasheet for the grade and stock form you are designing with.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.15g/cc not stated on Ensinger sheet (D792 on distributor sheets)Ensinger TECAFLON PTFE natural stock-shape datasheet PDF (2023-07-19, v AD) (opens in a new tab) |
| Tensile strength | 3,200psi |
| Tensile modulus | 80,000psi |
| Flexural modulus | 72,000psi |
| Hardness | 55Shore D |
| Izod impact, notched | 3.5ft-lb/in |
| Max continuous service temp | 500°F manufacturer rating (long term)Ensinger TECAFLON PTFE natural stock-shape datasheet PDF (2023-07-19, v AD) (opens in a new tab) |
| Heat deflection temp @ 264 psi | 132°F |
| Water absorption, 24 h | <0.01% |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 7.2×10⁻⁵ in/in/°F ASTM D696 (23-100 °C, longitudinal)Ensinger TECAFLON PTFE natural stock-shape datasheet PDF (2023-07-19, v AD) (opens in a new tab) |
| FDA food contact | Yes, virgin grade Virgin (unfilled) grade only, under 21 CFR 177.1550. |
PTFE has no yield point, so its tensile strength is at break and is not a design stress.
What PTFE is
Exceptional chemical resistance and lowest coefficient of friction of any solid material.
Why engineers specify it
PTFE is chosen for the environment, not the load. It is soft and it creeps under sustained pressure, so it is rarely the answer for a structural part — but where the medium is aggressive or a surface has to be genuinely non-stick, very little else will do.
Machining PTFE
PTFE cuts easily but moves — it is soft, it creeps, and it has a high rate of thermal expansion, so workholding and post-machining stability need thinking about before tolerances are promised.
Need PTFE parts machined to print?
Send us a drawing and we will quote it. Precision plastic machining in Linden, New Jersey since 1968.