Customizing PTFE Seals and Gaskets for Enhanced Performance
Not All Seals and Gaskets Are the Same; Here Are Some Performance Characteristics and Other Factors to Consider
In many instances, hardware parts specified by design engineers are considered “commodity” or “generic” items, non-proprietary items that are more or less the same, regardless of the supplier. This view may be common to those who order PTFE parts, the synthetic polytetrafluoroethylene that is marketed under the brand name Teflon® by the chemical giant DuPont.
Generally speaking, PTFE is well known for its toughness, low coefficient of friction, temperature resistance, chemical inertness, and other properties that are required in a range of applications and industries. PTFE seals and gaskets are examples of items that have become standard in a myriad of applications.
However, when it comes to the supply of the PTFE seals and gaskets commonly used in combination with other parts that make up many components and assemblies, there are a number of important factors that specifiers need to consider, according to industry experts.