At Sun Coating Company, we frequently receive inquiries about one of our most popular industrial coatings: PTFE, also known as Teflon. PTFE has become a staple across many manufacturing sectors due to its many benefits. Here are 9 key benefits PTFE coatings can provide for your manufacturing operation.
Reduce Friction and Wear
A primary reason behind PTFE’s widespread use is its ability to reduce friction and wear. The coating provides an ultra-smooth surface that enables parts to glide past each other with ease. This reduces friction, which in turn lowers operating temperatures. With less friction, equipment experiences less wear over time, leading to extended service life. PTFE coatings are ideal for applications involving bearings, gears, and other moving components. The reduced friction can also improve efficiency by lowering the energy required to operate equipment.
Prevent Corrosion
In addition to lubrication, PTFE forms a protective barrier that shields metal surfaces from moisture, chemicals, and other corrosive substances. Parts coated with PTFE are far less prone to rusting, pitting, and other corrosion damage. This is especially beneficial for equipment used in harsh industrial environments. PTFE will extend the usable life of components exposed to corrosive agents.
Non-Stick Properties
The non-stick nature of PTFE is invaluable for many manufacturing processes. PTFE-coated parts release adhesives, inks, oils, melted plastics, and other substances much more easily. This prevents fouling and buildup on equipment such as molds, dies, rollers, and more. Frequent cleaning and maintenance are reduced, minimizing downtime. The non-stick properties also improve product quality by preventing defects caused by materials sticking where they shouldn’t.
Temperature Resistance
PTFE excels in high-temperature applications, with upper use limits around 500°F. It maintains integrity and performance well beyond the temperatures that cause other lubricants and coatings to degrade. PTFE’s stability at elevated temperatures allows it to protect components like molds, kiln-car furniture, and other hot equipment. It’s also useful for cooking equipment, heat exchangers, bakeware, and other high-heat applications.
Chemical Resistance
In addition to heat resistance, PTFE stands up extremely well to a wide range of harsh chemicals. Acids, caustics, solvents, and other chemicals won’t deteriorate a PTFE coating. This allows it to protect parts used in chemical processing and other applications where aggressive substances are present. The chemical resistance also enables easy cleaning without damaging the PTFE coating.
Nontoxic and Inert
Unlike some industrial coatings, PTFE is completely non-toxic and chemically inert. This means it won’t react with or contaminate materials it contacts. As a result, PTFE-coated parts are safe for applications involving food, pharmaceuticals, and sensitive electronics where toxicity is a concern. It also makes PTFE suitable for biomedical implants and devices.
Improved Efficiency
By reducing friction and wear, preventing fouling, and minimizing cleaning needs, PTFE coatings allow equipment to operate more efficiently. Less energy and labor are required throughout manufacturing processes, cutting costs and improving productivity. Efficiency gains can be substantial over the lifespan of equipment.
Cost Savings
When you add up all the benefits, PTFE coatings save real money in manufacturing. Longer equipment life, reduced maintenance, minimized downtime, and improved efficiency provide major cost savings over uncoated components. The return on investment from PTFE coating can be quite high in many applications. The coatings pay for themselves over time while improving operations.
Easy Application
Applying PTFE coatings requires no special equipment or complicated processes. Coatings like our Sandstrom Mil Spec offerings can be sprayed, dipped, or brushed on. Curing occurs rapidly at relatively low temperatures for most PTFE coating formulas. We handle the PTFE coating application at our facility, so your parts are ready to install when you receive them.
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If your manufacturing process involves equipment that could benefit from lower friction, enhanced wear resistance, non-stick properties, or chemical resistance, PTFE is worth exploring. Please reach out to the team at Sun Coating Company to discuss which PTFE coating best suits your specific application needs. We also offer specialized coatings like Cerakote for extreme high-temperature uses. Contact us today to learn more!