This page of PTFE technical knowledge, answers the quiestion of what is PTFE and the PTFE applications, how to manufacture PTFE film tapes.
What is PTFE?
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, Teflon, Teflon), known as “king of plastics”, is a fluorocarbon-based polymer. It has amazing chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, strong acid and strong alkali resistance, water and various organic solvents resistance.
High lubrication is the lowest friction coefficient among solid materials. And it is no adhesion, low friction coefficient, the smallest surface tension of solid materials, and does not adhere to any substance.
In addition to reacting with molten alkali metals, it is not corroded by any substance. Even if it is boiled in hydrofluoric acid, aqua regia or fuming sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, it will not change.
Compared with other plastics, PTFE is white waxy, translucent, heat-resistant and cold resistant, and can be used in a wide range of temperatures rage of – 180°C to 260°C(-292°F to 500°F). It has good mechanical toughness at low temperature, and can maintain 5% elongation even if the temperature drops to – 196°C (-320°F). Anyway mechanical properties can usually be improved by adding fillers.
PTFE has excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties.
PTFE Applications
Sintered and Unsintered PTFE Tapes, Semi-conductive PTFE Tapes are the three main types LAMM’s design engineers use for cable and wire industry.
For manufacturers of military and commercial aircraft electronic equipment cables, LAMM engineers have designed PTFE tapes of different densities and thicknesses with excellent insulation properties. Cable manufacturers wrap
Unsintered PTFE Tape from LAMM Tape Solutions, around a conductor and then heat-sinter it to produce potent electric wires with integrity, rigidity and uniform insulation. Cable manufacturers also use Unsintered PTFE Tape from LAMM Tape Solutions to create high-speed data cables of superlative quality and with minimal signal loss.
A) Unsintered PTFE can be used to manufacture the PTFE Insulation Tapes for cables with high temperature resistance, flame retardant and fireproof requirements, and PTFE Wrapping Film Tape. It can be applied to but not only the following cables:
- Flexible Wire Harness Cable,
- Fiber and Ethernet high-speed cables such as SFP / ZSFP / QSFP etc
- FFC (Flexible Printed Circuit) Cable
- Aerospace cables
- Wires and cables for military Industry
- Wires and cables for robot industry
- Industrial swing resistant cable
- Coaxial cable / micro coaxial cable etc
B) Sintered PTFE Tape can be used for cables with Sintered insulation, isolation requirements. Density range from 2.14 through 2.19 g/cm³
C) Semi-conductive PTFE Tapes are soft and good mechanical toughness. Manufacturers use it to wrap the wires and cables. And it has the ability of anti noise; restrain primary battery reaction and eliminating static electricity.
Manufacture and Inspection
LAMM Tape Solutions produces PTFE Tapes following the below steps:
1.Raw Material => 2. Making Film => 3. Coiling => 4. Quality Inspection => 5 Slitting customized=> 6. Coiling customized => 7. Online Quality Inspection => 8. Packing => 9 Shipping
LAMM’s Quality Management Systems (QMS), please read Quality Assurance
Tape Converting Services
LAMM Tape Solutions has the industry’s top slitting ability, and can cut any width material with a width >=0.6mm. Independently design and manufacture its own patented slitting machinery and equipment.
More information please read Converting Services.
Coiling / Packing
After the PTFE tape is slit, tape can be packed in PADS / SPOOLS. Available thickness ranging from 50μm through 300μm (0.002 through 0.012 inches), and widths ranging from 0.6mm through 200m (0.024 through 7.87 inches) or customized.
Rolls are usually set on a standard 30mm, 3 inches and 6 inches or customized
More PTFE technical knowledge, Please check in FAQ page.