PTFE — Machining & Properties
Typical properties, what PTFE is like on a machine tool, what it gets used for, and the tolerance and finishes we hold on it — from a shop that actually machines it, not a datasheet aggregator. Every figure here drives our own calculators.
Machining PTFE
Machinability is rated good — a well-behaved material to machine with correctly chosen tooling and parameters. Engineering polymers have significantly higher thermal expansion coefficients than metals. All plastic components must be inspected at a controlled temperature, and tolerances tighter than ±0.020 mm are generally not maintainable in service without dimensional constraints in the design.
Our standard achievable tolerance on PTFE is ±0.050mm under normal conditions, with tighter tolerances on critical features agreed at quotation. Standard finishes: Chemically inert; very high thermal expansion. Full material traceability with MTR and CoC documentation on every order.
Typical applications
Seals, insulators, low-friction sliding bearings, chemical containment.
Use PTFE in our free tools
Other engineering plastic grades we machine: PEEK (Unfilled) · PEEK-CF30 · Delrin POM-C · Delrin POM-H — all 50 grades.
PTFE — FAQ
What is the density of PTFE?
2.2 g/cm³ (typical). That is 2200 kg/m³ — our metal weight calculator uses exactly this figure for PTFE.
What is the tensile strength of PTFE?
Typically 30 MPa. Treat it as a typical value, not a specification — the Material Test Report supplied with your order states the actual certified figures for the batch.
Is PTFE easy to machine?
Its machinability is rated good — a well-behaved material to machine with correctly chosen tooling and parameters.
What is PTFE used for?
Typical applications: Seals, insulators, low-friction sliding bearings, chemical containment.
What tolerance can be held when machining PTFE?
Our standard achievable tolerance on PTFE is ±0.050mm under normal conditions (ISO 2768-f general tolerancing). Tighter tolerances on critical features can be agreed at quotation for specific geometries.
Can Dalloway machine PTFE?
Yes — we machine PTFE in-house on 3, 4 and 5-axis milling and CNC turning, from single prototypes to production, with MTR and CoC documentation standard. Typical finishes: Chemically inert; very high thermal expansion.
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