PTFE Overview Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, is a fluoropolymer made of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) monomer. It is widely used compound in our life The PTFE Origin Story In 1938, Roy Plunkett, discovered PTFE when trying to create a new chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant He stored the TFE gas in metal cans and he used the weight of the cans to measure the amount of TFE used although the weight of the gas pressure bottle didn’t signal that it was empty, no gas flowed out of it . he decided to cut the metal can apart. he found a white and flaky powder on the interior of the can . The TFE had polymerized overnight with the iron from the inside of the can acting as a catalyst.

1. Polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE)
By: Engineer Rahaf eltaher

2. PTFE Overview
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, is a
fluoropolymer made of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) monomer. It is
widely used compound in our life
The PTFE Origin Story
In 1938, Roy Plunkett, discovered PTFE when trying to create a new
chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant
He stored the TFE gas in metal cans and he used the weight of the
cans to measure the amount of TFE used
although the weight of the gas pressure bottle didn’t signal that it was
empty, no gas flowed out of it . he decided to cut the metal can apart.
he found a white and flaky powder on the interior of the can . The TFE
had polymerized overnight with the iron from the inside of the can
acting as a catalyst.

4. PTFE market
52
%
Asia
pacific
Rest of the
world
Market size is
expected to grow
faster next decade
6.5 %
2030
$5.1
Billion
$3.4
Billion
2022
projected to reach a revised
size of US$5.1 Billion by
2030
2022-2030

5. Preparation of monomer
1.Chloroform
(trichloomethane)
by reacting methane with a
mixture of hydrogen chloride and
chlorine.
CH4(g) + 3Cl2(g) –> CHCl3(g) + 3HCl(g)
2.chlorodifluoromethane
By reacting chloroform with
anhydrous hydrogen fluoride,
chlorodifluoromethane is created.
CHCl3(g) + 2HF(g) –> CHCIF2(g) + 2HCl(g)
3. tetrafluoroethylene
TFE
BY Heating
chlorodifluoromethane in
the absence of air, a
process known as pyrolysis
2CHClF2(g) –> C2F4(g) + 2HCl(g)
03
01 02

7. Process safety constructions for preparation
of monomer
1. TFE is highly flammable, and its transportation is
very risky. Therefore, this step must be performed
on-site where the final product (PTFE) is created
TFE must be cooled rapidly to avoid reverse
reaction and explosive decomposition.
TFE is highly explosive, it is produced on-
site, when and where the polymerization will
occur, minimizing storage time.
Purification of TFE : Pure monomer is required for
polymerization. The gas is first scrubbed to remove any
hydrochloric acid and then distilled to separate other
impurities

8. producing
PTFE

9. PTFE is prepared by Radical Polymerization of TFE
Consists of three steps
1] Initiation step:
*it is Used proxy disulfuric acid (reagent) which will be decompose homologically by heating into two free
radicals.
*These radicals used as a radical initiator in the polymerization process.

10. *The radical open the double bond of TFE and create a new radical.
*This new radical open another TFE monomer and create a new monomer
and so on.

11. 2] Propagation Step:
*This process continues making the actual polymer PTFE.
*at this step the polymer chain was created.

12. Termination Step:
At this step the last radical in a polymer chain connected with the
last radical in another polymer chain to produce the PTFE.

13. Polymerization of TFE
two well-known main methods of producing PTFE:
1 suspension polymerization
creates grains of PTFE that can be
processed into pellets which can be
molded
2 dispersion polymerization
produces PTFE in the form of a
milky paste that can be
processed into a fine powder.
useful for coatings
• The reaction chamber is filled with purified
water and a reaction agent or initiator,
terminator
• The liquid TFE is piped into the reaction
chamber. As the TFE meets the initiator, it
begins to polymerize. The resulting PTFE
forms solid grains that float to the surface
heat, produced so the chamber is cooled by the
circulation of cold water or another coolant in a
jacket
PROCESS
DESCRIBTION
PROCESS
DESCRIBTION
• TFE is introduced into a water-
filled reactor along with the
initiating chemical.
• chamber is only agitated gently.
• The PTFE forms into tiny beads.
Some of the water is removed, by
filtering or by adding chemicals
which cause the PTFE beads to
settle.
industrially

14. Processing

15. Unlike thermoplastics the viscosity of the gel above the melting point is too high for
PTFE to be processed by traditional methods such as injection or transfer and
rotational moulding.
1.Compression of the powder at ambient temperature
2. Sintering ‫تلبيد‬ 3. Slow Cooling
steps:
Processing
Cold Compression Moulding
Products :
PTFE short length Rods, & Plates
Advantage:
PTFE Products
manufactured by this
process have good
physical properties
Disadvantage:
PTFE Products of long,
continuous length more than
500mm & complex design
are difficult to produce due
to limited PTFE Resin flow
properties

16. PTFE Tube Extrusion Machine
Advantage
PTFE products
manufactured by this
process are available in
long continuously length
up to more than 3
meters.
Disadvantage
The physical properties such
as Density, Tensile Strength,
Compression Strength are at
minimum level due to low
compression
Product
The PTFE products of basic shapes such as Rods up to
150mm Diameter
Tubes are manufactured up to 3 Meters .
PTFE is continuously fed into one end of straight die
tube

17. PROPERTIES

18.  The exceptional physical and
chemical properties of PTFE.
 Polytetrafluoroethylene is a
tetrafluoroethylene polymer
with a particular molecular
structure that gives it the
unique physical and chemical
properties that distinguish it
from other plastic materials,
making it suitable for endless
industrial applications
PTFE PROPERTIES

19. Comparison 01
• Excellent dielectric strength
at various temperatures and
frequencies
• High surface resistivity
• High volume resistivity
• High dissipation factor
electrical properties
• Chemical inertia: PTFE is inert to almost all known
chemicals (except for elemental alkaline metals and
fluorine)
• PTFE is insoluble at temperatures up to 300°C
• Biologically safe and suitable for use in contact with food
(FDA certification); maximum safety for use in various
applications (the chemical and medical industry and
medical applications)
• Excellent resistance to UV radiation
• Non-flammable
• Completely water repellent
chemical & physical properties

20. • Non-stick and anti-
adhesive
• Low friction coefficient,
even under heavy loads
• Wide range of operating
temperatures
• Excellent workability
• Low heat conductivity
• Good thermal
insulation
thermal properties
mechanical properties
Comparison 02

21. Tests on PTFE

22. Young's modulus 575 MPa
Shear modulus 230 MPa
Tensile strength 30.5 MPa
Elongation 450 %
Compressive
strength
23.5 MPa
Bending strength 5.5 MPa
Hardness 54 Rockwell
Impact strength 1.6 J/cm
Yield strength 0 MPa
Thermal
expansion
80 E-6/K
Thermal
conductivity
0.24 W/m*K
Specific heat 1000 J/kg*K
Melting
temperature
327 °C
Glass
temperature
127 °C
Minimum service
temperature
-200 °C
Maximum service
temperature
260 °C
Density 2175 kg/m3
Resistivity 1E+22 Ohm*mm2/m
Breakdown
potential
65 kV/mm
Dielectric loss
factor
0.00035
Friction
coefficient
0.075
Refraction index 1.35
Shrinkage 4.75 %
Water absorption 0 %
(PTFE) film was pulled apart using tensile
substage and the tearing process
Testing of Hard PTFE sample on
TensileBOT

23. applications

24. applications in oil and gas industry
Enhancing Equipment Performance and
Lowering Operation Costs
Teflon is the go-to solution for many production and manufacturing issues due to
their low coefficient of friction, chemical inertness, dielectric stability, and extreme temperature tolerance.
1
handle:
• Release
• Heavy wear and abrasion
• Extreme temperatures
• High loads
• Corrosion
Cabling for Oil and Gas
2
Deep well exploration and drilling operations
resistance in temperatures up to 288 °C (550
°F)—making them ideal for insulation and
jacketing, corrosion resistance, and more.
Learn more.
Heat Exchangers
3
coating or lining for pipes and tubes can
maximize well productivity and minimize
costs

25. Resources
 https://www.prodeflon.it/en/processing/ptfe-properties
 https://omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polytetrafluoroethylene-ptfe-fluoropolymer

https://www.matweb.com/search/datasheet_print.aspx?matguid=4d14eac958e5401a8fd152e1261b6843
 https://www.teflon.com/en/industries-and-solutions/industries/energy-oil-gas
http://www.standard-ptfe.com/production-process-of-ptfe.php