Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as the "King of Plastics," is a polymer material with unique properties. The strong carbon-fluorine bonds in its molecular structure grant it extreme chemical inertness, enabling it to resist nearly all highly corrosive media. It also boasts the lowest coefficient of friction among known solid materials and exhibits natural non-stick characteristics. PTFE can operate stably across a broad temperature range from -200°C to 260°C while offering excellent electrical insulation and biocompatibility.
These properties make its applications remarkably extensive. It serves as the core coating for non-stick cookware, the material of choice for critical seals and corrosion-resistant linings in chemical equipment, and the foundation for high-end waterproof and breathable membranes in outdoor apparel (such as GORE-TEX) as well as many medical implants like artificial blood vessels. Additionally, as an additive, PTFE micropowder significantly enhances the wear resistance and lubrication performance of lubricants and engineering plastics.
However, PTFE's strengths and weaknesses are equally distinct. Its core advantages lie in exceptional corrosion resistance, excellent non-stick and lubricating properties, and a wide operating temperature range. Yet, its mechanical strength is relatively low, and it exhibits cold flow properties, meaning it can slowly deform under prolonged pressure. Processing PTFE is also challenging—it cannot be molded using conventional plastic injection techniques and typically requires complex sintering processes, which limits design flexibility and increases costs. Furthermore, PTFE has poor thermal conductivity, and its high-temperature stability is clearly limited: performance begins to degrade above 260°C, and thermal decomposition may occur above 350°C. This is the scientific reason why dry heating must be strictly avoided when using non-stick cookware.
In terms of safety, PTFE itself is stable and non-toxic under normal conditions. The modern industry has phased out the controversial processing aid PFOA once used in its production. The key to safe usage lies in avoiding exposure to abnormally high temperatures exceeding 260°C.
In summary, PTFE is not a universal material but rather excels in specific performance dimensions such as corrosion resistance and non-stick lubrication. Choosing to use it essentially involves a precise trade-off between its irreplaceable properties and the mechanical and processing limitations that must be accepted, all to address specialized challenges that conventional materials cannot meet.
