Is PTFE the same as Teflon?

Teflon is a brand name for PTFE. In workshops both words are used for the same white plastic.

Plain PTFE is soft and slowly deforms under load. Glass, carbon or bronze fillers reduce this creep and improve wear, which matters for bearings and seals.

Can PTFE be injection moulded?

No. PTFE does not flow when melted, so it is compression moulded and sintered into rods and sheets, then machined.

PTFE (Teflon): properties, filled grades, machining, uses

PTFE, often called Teflon, is a white plastic with the lowest friction of any solid and resistance to almost every chemical. It works from about −200 to +260 °C. It is soft and creeps under load, so filled grades with glass, carbon or bronze are used for bearings and seals. It is machined from rods and sheets because it cannot be injection moulded.

Quick facts

Density: About 2.1–2.2 g/cm³
Service temperature: About −200 to +260 °C
Friction: Very low, about 0.05–0.1 against steel
Chemical resistance: Resists almost all chemicals
Weakness: Soft; creeps (cold flow) under load
Forms: Moulded and sintered rods, tubes and sheets

Filled PTFE grades

Filler	What it improves	Typical use
Glass fibre (15–25%)	Less creep, better wear	Seals, bushes, valve seats
Carbon / graphite	Wear, heat conduction	Piston rings, bearings
Bronze	Wear, strength, heat conduction	Hydraulic guide rings, bearings

Machining PTFE

Very sharp tools, light cuts, no coolant needed in most cases
PTFE expands a lot with temperature; measure at room temperature
Hold parts gently; it deforms under clamping force
Realistic tolerances about ±0.05–0.1 mm (±0.0020–0.0039 inch)

Typical uses

Seals, gaskets and valve seats
Bearings and slide pads
Chemical pump and valve parts
Electrical insulators
Non-stick surfaces in food machinery

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Questions

Is PTFE the same as Teflon?: Teflon is a brand name for PTFE. In workshops both words are used for the same white plastic.
Why use filled PTFE?: Plain PTFE is soft and slowly deforms under load. Glass, carbon or bronze fillers reduce this creep and improve wear, which matters for bearings and seals.
Can PTFE be injection moulded?: No. PTFE does not flow when melted, so it is compression moulded and sintered into rods and sheets, then machined.

The figures on this page are typical values for guidance, written by Diemeco from standard engineering practice. They are not a specification: confirm grades and properties with the relevant standard or the supplier's mill test certificate, and tolerances with your workshop. Last checked 16 October 2026.