Teflon™ is a registered brand name owned by Chemours (a spin-off of DuPont). PTFE is the chemical name of the polymer Polytetrafluoroethylene. While all Teflon™ is PTFE, not all PTFE is manufactured by Chemours. In terms of material properties, high-quality virgin PTFE and Teflon™ are chemically identical.

No, virgin PTFE cannot be injection moulded. Unlike standard thermoplastics, it does not "flow" when melted due to its extremely high melt viscosity. Instead, PTFE is processed using compression moulding or extrusion, where powder is compacted into a shape and then "sintered" (heated) in an oven to fuse the particles together.

Yes, virgin PTFE is physiologically inert and generally compliant with FDA (USA) and EU food contact regulations. It is non-toxic and does not support the growth of bacteria or fungi.
However, it is vital to ensure that any fillers used in "filled PTFE" are also food-grade if they are being used in such applications.

Cold flow, also known as creep, is the tendency of a solid material to move slowly or deform permanently under the influence of mechanical stresses. Because PTFE is a relatively soft polymer, it can deform over time even at room temperature if subjected to heavy loads. This is typically mitigated by using filled grades or reinforcing the PTFE component with a metal housing.
Our filled PTFE rods and sheets can be found here.

While virgin PTFE has excellent chemical and electrical properties, it is relatively soft and prone to creep (cold flow) under load. Adding fillers improves mechanical performance:
Glass Fibre: Increases wear resistance and compressive strength.
Carbon: Improves thermal conductivity and reduces friction.
Bronze: Significantly enhances wear resistance and load-bearing capacity.
Graphite: Reduces friction in high-speed sliding applications.
Our filled PTFE rods and sheets can be found here.

PTFE is stable up to 260°C (500°F) for continuous use. Above 400°C, it undergoes significant thermal decomposition, releasing polymer fumes.
Adequate ventilation is therefore essential if PTFE is heated near its limits.

Because of its famous non-stick properties, standard adhesives will not stick to PTFE. To bond it to another substrate (like steel or rubber), the surface must be sodium-etched. This chemical process strips fluorine atoms from the surface, leaving a carbonaceous layer that allows industrial adhesives to "grip" the material.
You can find our etched PTFE sheets here.

Yes. PTFE is one of the few plastics that is virtually unaffected by UV radiation. It does not become brittle, discoloured, or lose mechanical strength when exposed to direct sunlight or extreme weather conditions over many years, making it ideal for outdoor architectural membranes and aerospace components.

While PTFE is resistant to almost all chemicals, it has poor resistance to high-energy radiation (such as Gamma rays). Exposure to radiation causes the molecular chains to break, leading to a rapid loss of tensile strength and elongation. For highly radioactive environments, materials like PEEK or Polyimide are usually preferred.

PTFE is difficult to recycle in the traditional sense because it cannot be re-melted. However, "sintered" scrap can be ground into a fine micro-powder or reprocessed ("repro") grain. This reprocessed material is often used for less demanding applications or as an additive in lubricants and inks.