PTFE powder (polytetrafluoroethylene) is compressed and heated at high temperatures, whilst PEEK powder (polyetheretherketone) is heated to a liquid to create moulded shapes.
Due to its high melting viscosity, PTFE cannot be processed like other high performance thermoplastics. At high temperatures, above 350°C, PTFE becomes highly viscous which precludes using normal extruding processes or injection moulding. PTFE is therefore processed by compression moulding and sintering or ram extrusion.
The most common moulded shapes are PTFE Sheets, PTFE Rods and PTFE Tubes and Cylinders which are then machined to create engineered products specific to an application. In exceptional circumstances, PEEK can be used as an application specific solution to create similar shapes.
Compounds can be added to both PEEK and PTFE powder to provide additional characteristics such as chemical, friction, heat or UV resistance to the moulded shapes that will best fit the engineering application.
Fluoro Pacific can manufacture and supply PEEK cylinders and PTFE stock shapes in the following configurations:
- Compression moulded cylinders, sheet and rods
- Isostatically moulded tubes and rods
- Ram extruded rods and tubes
- Skived PTFE tape
- Etched tape and parts