TEFLON® Fiber Properties

A summary of the stress-strain and gross properties for unbleached TEFLON® PTFE Fiber is shown in
the table below.

Typical Properties for Natural TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber

Yarn denier: filaments (dtex: filaments) 400-60 (440-60)
Stress-Strain Properties**

Straight Test
Tensile strength, psi (MPa) 52,500 (362)
Breaking strength, Ibs (N) 1.7 (7.6)
Breaking tenacity, g/den. (cN/tex) 2.0 (19.6)
Elongation at break, % 19
Initial modulus, g/den. (cN/tex) 13.0 (127.4)

Loop test
Tensile strength, psi (MPa) 31,000 (214)
Breaking strength, lbs (N) 1.8 (8.0)
Elongation at break, % 8.5

Thermal Properties
Shrinkage alter 30 minutes, % in water at 212°F (100°C) 2.5
in air at 350°F (177C) 6.0
Specific heat, cal/g•oC (J/kg•K) 0.25 (1.046)
Thermal conductivity, BTU/h•ft2•oF for 1" of thickness
(W/m2•K for 1cm of thickness) 1.7 (245)
Zero strength temperature***, oF (°C) 590 (310)
Gel temperature, F (°C) 621 (327)
Sublimation rate, % weight loss/hourat 554°F (290oC) 0.0002
at 806°F (430oC) 1.5

General Properties
Specific gravity 2.1
Moisture regain, % 0.0

**Stress-strain properties were determined on an "Instron" tensile tester at 70°F (21°C), 65% R.H.
*** Temperature at which the yarn breaks under a load of 0.1 g/den. (0.98 cN/tex)

Coefficient of Friction of TEFLON® PTFE

 The coefficient of friction of
TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber
is the lowest of all known fibers. The
static coefficient of friction is only
slightly higher than the dynamic
value, so TEFLON® does not exhibit
"stick-slip" behavior.

The dynamic coefficient of friction of

TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber
decreases with an increase in either
load or temperature (see Figure 3).
Dynamic coefficient of friction values
as low as 0.008 have been
measured when a self1 ubricated
bearing containing TEFLON® fiber
was tested against steel.

Electrical Properties of TEFLON® PTFE

TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer resin is an excellent insulator. The insulating values of bleached
TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber approach those of the resin for which the following values have
been measured at room temperature:

dielectric constant* * of 2.1 for frequencies up to 109cycles per second (109Hz).

dissipation factor* * <0.0001 for frequencies up to 106 cycles per second (106 Hz), with a peak value of
0.0004 at 109cycles per second (109Hz).
dielectric strength*** of 4 kV/mil (1.6 MV/cm) for a specimen 1 mil (0.025 mm) thick and 2 kV/mil (0.8
MV/cm) for a thickness of 10 mils (0.25 mm).

* * ASTM Test Method D150-54T

*** ASTM Test Method D149-59 (short time test)

Chemical Resistance of TEFLON® PTFE

TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber is the most chemically resistant fiber known. It is inert to powerful
oxidizing agents and to such reagents as boiling sulfuric acid, fuming nitric acid, boiling aqua regia
(mixed sulfuric and nitric acids), and boiling (saturated) sodium hydroxide. The only known solvents for
TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber or resin are selected perfluorinated organic liquids at temperatures
above 570°F (299°C).

Heat Resistance of TEFLON® PTFE

The maximum temperature to which TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber can be exposed for long
periods is 550°F (288°C), but the fiber can tolerate brief exposures to temperatures as high as 600°F
(316°C). Continuous exposure to temperatures below 400°F (204°C) ordinarily does not degrade
TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber.

Selected physical properties of TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber after exposure to elevated tem-
peratures in air are summarized in the table below.

Yarn Properties of TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber after exposure to high temperatures**
Air Exposure Breaking Work-to-
Elongation at Break Heat
Temperature Time Strength Break
Shrinkage,
ºF(ºC) Hours Retained, % Retained, % Retained, %
%
350(177) 1 101 182 156 6.3
10 99 191 156 6.5
1000 94 210 178 11.1
550 (288) 1 85 385 267 22.6
10 91 427 300 20.2
1000 69 512 322 24.1
Deteriorated; testing not
700(371) 1
possible
**Data were obtained at room temperature using specimens of 400-denier(440dtex) natural TEFLON®
yarn

Service Temperature Range of TEFLON® PTFE

TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber is stable over a wide range of temperatures. The fiber becomes
less ductile at extremely low temperatures and softens at extremely high temperatures. Experience
shows that adequate toughness and strength are available for selected uses at temperatures as low as
-450°F (-268°C) and as high as 550°F (288°C).

Sunlight and Weather Resistance

TEFLON® PTFE fluoropolymer fiber has outstanding sunlight and weather resistance. Continuous
exposure to direct Florida sunlight and weather for three years resulted in only a 2% measured loss in
yarn breaking strength.

Flamability
TEFLON® brand fibers are one of the most non-flamabile organic fibers available. Our fibers do not
melt or drip and have a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of greater than 95 for our bleached fibers.

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TEFLON® brand fluoropolymer fibers are not dyeable. At this time we offer our fiber in natural (dark
brown) and bleached (white). It is possible to add color to our spun yarns by dying the non-
fluoropolymer fibers in the blend. If you are intersted in this approach, please contact us.