Teflon and PTFE are essentially the same thing, both referring to the material polytetrafluoroethylene. The difference is that Teflon is a registered trademark, originally owned by DuPont, and now owned by Chemours, an independent company spun off from DuPont.

1. Difficult to Process, High Cost: Due to PTFE’s unique properties, it has an extremely high melting point and requires special processing techniques, like “cold pressing,” which is time-consuming and requires specialized equipment. This makes PTFE expensive and challenging to process.
2. Poor Creep Resistance: Compared to materials like nylon and PEEK, PTFE has lower hardness and rigidity. In practical applications, if PTFE is continuously under pressure, it may permanently deform over time.
3. Decomposes and Releases Toxins at High Temperatures: When PTFE is exposed to temperatures above 260°C for long periods, it begins to break down and release toxic substances. At temperatures exceeding 350°C, the decomposition process accelerates, releasing harmful fumes.
4. Non-Biodegradable: PTFE’s high thermal stability prevents it from naturally degrading. Recycling PTFE requires high temperatures, which can release toxic by-products, leading to environmental pollution and potential harm to human health.

The lifespan of PTFE depends on its application environment. Under clean conditions and normal operating temperatures, PTFE can last for 10-50 years. However, if it operates under high pressure for extended periods, its lifespan will be significantly shorter, possibly only 7-8 years, or even 4-6 years.  Of course, this also depends on the grade of the PTFE material.

Currently, there are two methods for recycling PTFE:

1. Mechanical Recycling: PTFE is ground into fine powder, compacted, and then sintered at a high temperature of 370°C.
2. Chemical Recycling (also known as Pyrolysis): When exposed to temperatures over 400°C, PTFE decomposes into tetrafluoroethylene monomers.

After receiving the goods, you can quickly perform an acceptance inspection. First, check if the PTFE sheet is milky white and free of color variations.  Secondly, measure its volume and weight to calculate the density of the PTFE sheet. If the density is within 2.1-2.2 g/cm³, it is considered acceptable. If you have sufficient time, you can immerse it in concentrated sulfuric acid solvent, observe it for 24 hours, then remove and weigh it. Compare the weight to the weight upon receipt; if the change rate is no more than 1%, and there are no cracks on the surface, it is considered acceptable.

PTFE, commonly known as “the king of plastics,” boasts excellent overall performance and is suitable for most applications.  It also has a long service life, lasting 10-50 years or more.  We can develop customized solutions for your specific project, providing personalized professional service to address your concerns.

Yes, PTFE is available in different grades, including general-purpose, food-grade, and medical-grade. Each grade is suitable for different applications. Furthermore, the raw materials for PTFE also vary, with different brands available from manufacturers such as DuPont and Daikin. In addition, there is both pure PTFE and recycled PTFE.

If you’re simply cutting PTFE sheets, you can do it yourself. For thin sheets, you can score the surface with a utility knife and then easily break it apart by hand; for thicker sheets, you’ll need a saw.  First, secure the sheet, then mark the cutting line, and finally, saw along the marked line. However, if your project is large and involves a significant amount of PTFE sheets, you’ll need to use a CNC machine for cutting. This will greatly improve efficiency, but it may increase your costs.