PTFE

What is it?

Best known by its trade name Teflon — the lowest-friction, most chemically inert plastic in common use.

Key behavior

Extremely low friction coefficient and near-total chemical resistance, but soft and prone to creep (slow deformation) under sustained load.

Why choose it

Seals, bearings, and anything in direct, sustained chemical contact where no other plastic will hold up.

Applications

Chemical-resistant seals, valve seats, non-stick sliding surfaces, electrical insulation.

Machining notes

Soft material that needs structural support in the design to avoid creep-related dimensional drift over time under load.