PTFE

PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene, was introduced to the market by the American company DuPont under the trade name Teflon®. The trade name used by Zakłady Azotowe in Tarnów is Tarflen®. The material belongs to the group of highly chemically resistant thermoplastics.

The origins of Tarflen® production and processing at Zakłady Azotowe in Tarnów date back to the early 1970s. In early 2009, Azoty Tarnów transferred the Tarflen® processing technology to its subsidiary, Jednostka Ratownictwa Chemicznego Sp. z o.o. in Tarnów. In June 2013, our company took over the Tarflen Processing Department and continues the production. As a result, we can manufacture a wide range of products based on PTFE (Tarflen), tailoring production to the individual needs of our customers.

Materials used to modify the polymer include: glass fiber, graphite, coke, bronze, molybdenum disulfide, and stainless steel.

Semi-finished products:

square and round plates (discs),
sleeves and rings,
rods and bars,
extruded rods and tubes,
thin-walled tubes and hoses,
porolite plates and discs.

Finished products:

flat gaskets,
envelope gaskets,
O-rings,
expansion bellows,
skived tapes,
demisters,
sealing tapes,
sealing cords,
molded parts.

Properties:

extremely high chemical resistance,
high crystallinity,
good machinability and ductility,
very good sliding properties,
minimal strength and hardness,
very low moisture absorption,
high thermal stability,
high coefficient of thermal expansion,
fire resistant, self-extinguishing,
low coefficient of friction,
low specific gravity,
operating temperature from -260°C to +260°C.

Glass transition temperature	-20°C
Density	2,15 g/cm³
Modulus of elasticity	700 MPa
Long-term service temperature	220°C
Short-term service temperature	260°C
Lower service temperature	-200°C

Applications of PTFE (Tarflen®)

The unique properties of PTFE (Tarflen) mean that it has found applications as an anti-corrosion, anti-adhesive, and anti-friction material, as well as a dielectric, even in the most demanding operating conditions. It is used by the chemical, construction, electrotechnical, machinery, textile, paper, aviation, automotive, food, and other industries. PTFE (Tarflen) can also be used in medical devices and instruments due to its complete biological inertness and the ability to be sterilized at elevated temperatures.

When determining dimensions for PTFE components, the extreme increase in the coefficient of thermal expansion, resulting from microstructural changes between 18°C and 20°C, must be taken into account. Dimensions should be defined at approximately 23°C.

Chemical industry:

apparatus and fitting components (stopcocks, ball seats, poppets, diaphragms, nozzles, etc.),
all types of static seals (flat, envelope, O-rings) and dynamic seals (V-ring seals, spiral back-up rings) in chemically aggressive environments,
expansion bellows as pipeline connectors, shields against contamination and aggressive substances, connectors in glass apparatus,
pipelines for transporting aggressive media,
column packing with Raschig rings,
anti-corrosion linings for tanks and chutes,
demisters for removing aggressive liquid droplets from gases,
porous filter elements.

Electrotechnical and electronic industry:

insulators operating across a wide range of temperatures and current frequencies, as well as in high air humidity,
insulating films and tapes, dielectric spacers for capacitors,
insulation for wires and cables operating in particularly demanding conditions,
high-voltage fuse components,
various electronic equipment components.

Machinery and construction industries:

machine and equipment parts,
lubrication-free bearings and slide rings,
piston rings in oil-free compressors,
mechanical shaft seals,
ball valve seats, diaphragms, nozzles.

Paper and textile industry:

coatings on slide rolls, drying drums, and in dyeing vats,
tension rollers and scraper blades,
smoothing rolls.

Food industry:

anti-adhesive (non-stick) coatings on various machine and equipment components,
pasta extrusion nozzles,
apparatus components (guides, linings, slides).