High‑Performance Teflon® (PTFE) Fasteners & Custom Parts for Extreme Environments

Teflon® (PTFE) Fasteners

Our PTFE fasteners—including screws, hex nuts, flat washers, and custom components—are engineered for environments demanding extreme heat and chemical resistance. Because PTFE is only machinable by CNC or compression molding, each part is precision‑cut to meet your exact specifications.

While PTFE offers unparalleled temperature tolerance, it is inherently soft. A simple fingernail can leave an imprint, so the material’s strength is lower than metal counterparts.

Discovery of Teflon®

PTFE was discovered in 1938 by DuPont chemist Roy J. Plunket while researching chlorofluoroethylene. The unexpected, waxy residue that coated the bottle interior earned the trademark “Teflon®” in 1945. By 1948, DuPont’s Kinetic Chemicals partnered with General Motors, producing over 900 tons per year. Early military applications included coating valves for the Manhattan Project’s uranium‑enrichment plant in Oak Ridge, TN.

What is Teflon®

PTFE is a high‑molecular‑weight synthetic fluoropolymer composed solely of carbon and fluorine atoms. Its hydrophobic nature prevents water absorption, making it ideal for harsh chemical environments.

Chemical Resistance

Only highly reactive alkali metals—whether molten or in solution—can break PTFE’s carbon‑fluorine bonds. Extreme fluorinating agents such as xenon difluoride or cobalt(III) fluoride, as well as high‑temperature aluminum and magnesium, also pose risks.

Coefficient of Friction

PTFE ranks among the lowest‑friction solids. Its surface resists van der Waals forces, rendering most adhesives ineffective and ensuring reliable non‑stick performance in mechanical assemblies.

Temperature Performance

PTFE melts at 326 °C (620 °F) and retains strength, toughness, and self‑lubricating properties down to –268 °C (–450 °F). Above 650 °C (1,200 °F), depolymerization occurs. The material is non‑flammable, adding a safety margin in high‑temperature applications.

Non‑Stick Cookware

Although PTFE‑coated pans debuted in France in the early 1950s, the U.S. market saw its first launch in 1961 with “The Happy Pan” by Marion A. Trozzolo. Today, brands like Swiss Diamond International® and Caphalon® offer PTFE‑lined cookware, and many irons use PTFE on sole plates for easy cleaning.

Broader Applications

PTFE’s excellent dielectric properties make it a staple in aerospace and computer wiring, where 50 % of global production is directed. Its low friction is exploited in bearings, gears, gaskets, and bushings, enhancing energy efficiency in industrial machinery.

In medicine, PTFE serves as a graft material and a catheter coating that discourages bacterial adhesion, thereby reducing hospital‑acquired infections.

Semiconductor fabrication relies on PTFE parts that resist the aggressive acids used in photolithography.

Need a specialized fastener or custom PTFE component? Contact Craftech® Industries, Inc. for expert design and precision manufacturing.