Polytetrafluoroethylene has relatively soft mechanical properties and extremely low surface energy. PTFE boasts a range of excellent performance characteristics:

　　High temperature resistance: Long-term operating temperature 200–260°C;

　　Low-temperature resistance: Remains flexible even at -100 degrees;

　　Corrosion-resistant: Resistant to aqua regia and all organic solvents;

　　Weather resistance: The longest aging life among plastics;

　　High lubricity: Features the lowest coefficient of friction among plastics (0.04);

　　Non-stick: Possesses the lowest surface tension among solid materials and does not adhere to any substance;

　Non-toxic: Physiologically inert; exhibits excellent electrical performance, making it an ideal Class C insulating material—just a single layer as thick as a newspaper can block high voltage up to 1500V; smoother than ice.

　　Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has an extremely low coefficient of friction—only one-fifth that of polyethylene—a key characteristic of perfluorocarbon surfaces. Moreover, due to the exceptionally weak intermolecular forces between fluorine-carbon chains, PTFE exhibits excellent non-stick properties. PTFE maintains outstanding mechanical performance over a wide temperature range from -196°C to 260°C; one of the distinctive features of perfluorocarbon polymers is their ability to remain ductile and not become brittle at low temperatures. PTFE has a relatively high density, ranging from 2.14 to 2.20 g/cm³, and it is virtually non-absorbent, with a equilibrium water absorption rate of less than 0.01%. PTFE is a prototypical soft and weak polymer, characterized by relatively weak intermolecular attractive forces among its macromolecules. As a result, it exhibits low stiffness, hardness, and strength, and tends to deform under prolonged stress.

　　Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is prone to creep under load and is a typical plastic with cold-flow characteristics. The creep behavior of PTFE varies depending on the compressive stress, temperature, and degree of crystallinity; the higher the temperature, the greater the creep. When the crystallinity of PTFE ranges between 55% and 80%, its creep strain does not exceed 2%. However, when the crystallinity falls below 55% or rises above 80%, the creep strain increases rapidly. Another outstanding mechanical property of PTFE is its extremely low coefficient of friction, which lies between 0.01 and 0.10—the lowest among all existing plastic materials and even among all engineering materials.

　　The coefficient of friction of PTFE increases with increasing sliding velocity and tends to stabilize when the linear velocity reaches above 0.5–1.0 m/s. Moreover, the static coefficient of friction is lower than the kinetic coefficient of friction. By leveraging this characteristic in bearing manufacturing, we can reduce the starting resistance, ensuring smooth operation from startup to steady-state operation. The coefficient of friction of PTFE decreases as the load increases and tends to become constant when the load exceeds 0.8 MPa. Under high-speed and high-load conditions, the coefficient of friction of PTFE falls below 0.01. From cryogenic temperatures all the way up to PTFE’s melting point, its coefficient of friction remains virtually unchanged; only when the surface temperature exceeds the melting point does the coefficient of friction increase sharply. Due to the weak intermolecular forces, PTFE has low hardness and is easily worn by other materials. However, as long as the surface roughness of the counter-material is appropriately matched, the wear rate of PTFE can be significantly reduced.

　　Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) exhibits extremely high resistance to chemical corrosion. For example, when boiled in concentrated sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, or even aqua regia, its weight and properties remain unchanged. It is also virtually insoluble in most solvents, with only slight solubility in alkanes above 300°C—approximately 0.1 g per 100 g of solvent. PTFE does not absorb moisture, is non-flammable, and demonstrates exceptional stability against oxygen and ultraviolet radiation, giving it outstanding weathering resistance. It is worth noting, however, that PTFE cannot withstand strong reducing atmospheres; molten alkali metals, ammonia solutions (where alkali metals dissolve in liquid ammonia), certain fluorides (such as trifluoroacetic acid, or TFA), and sodium naphthalene salts can all rapidly corrode PTFE products. Within a relatively wide frequency range, PTFE has very low dielectric constant and dielectric loss, and it also boasts high breakdown voltage, volume resistivity, and arc resistance.

　　Polytetrafluoroethylene has poor radiation resistance; after exposure to high-energy radiation, it undergoes degradation, leading to a significant decline in both its electrical and mechanical properties. Polytetrafluoroethylene is produced by free-radical polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene. In industrial processes, the polymerization reaction is carried out under vigorous stirring in the presence of large amounts of water, which helps dissipate the heat generated during the reaction and facilitates temperature control. The polymerization typically takes place at temperatures ranging from 40 to 80°C and pressures between 3 and 26 kilograms-force per square centimeter. Initiators can include inorganic persulfates, organic peroxides, or redox initiator systems. Each mole of tetrafluoroethylene undergoing polymerization releases 171.38 kJ of heat. For dispersion polymerization, it is necessary to add perfluorinated surfactants, such as perfluorooctanoic acid or its salts.

　　Polytetrafluoroethylene can be processed and molded by compression or extrusion; it can also be formulated into aqueous dispersions for use in coatings, impregnations, or fiber production. In industries such as atomic energy, national defense, aerospace, electronics, electrical engineering, chemical processing, machinery, instrumentation, construction, textiles, metal surface treatment, pharmaceuticals, medical care, textile manufacturing, food processing, and metallurgical smelting, PTFE is widely employed as a high- and low-temperature resistant, corrosion-resistant material, an insulating material, and an anti-adhesive coating, making it an irreplaceable product.

　　Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) boasts outstanding comprehensive performance characteristics: it is highly resistant to high temperatures, corrosion-resistant, non-stick, self-lubricating, possesses excellent dielectric properties, and has an extremely low coefficient of friction. As an engineering plastic, PTFE can be processed into various forms such as tubes, rods, tapes, sheets, and films. It is commonly used in applications requiring superior corrosion resistance, including pipelines, vessels, pumps, and valves, as well as in the manufacture of radar equipment, high-frequency communication devices, and wireless electronic components. When any filler material capable of withstanding PTFE sintering temperatures is added to PTFE, its mechanical properties can be significantly improved while still retaining PTFE’s other excellent characteristics. Fillers include glass fibers, metals, metallized oxides, graphite, molybdenum disulfide, carbon fibers, polyimides, EKONOL, and others. As a result, wear resistance and the maximum PV value can be increased by up to 1,000 times.

　　Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is manufactured by extruding suspension-polymerized PTFE resin through a piston-driven process. Among known plastics, PTFE boasts the best resistance to chemical corrosion and dielectric properties. PTFE braided packing is an excellent dynamic sealing material, woven from expanded PTFE strips. It features a low coefficient of friction, excellent wear resistance, superior chemical corrosion resistance, reliable sealing performance, resistance to hydrolysis, and no tendency to harden over time. This material is widely used for gasket seals and lubricants operating in various media, as well as for electrical insulation components, capacitor dielectrics, wire insulation, and insulation for electrical instruments—all suitable for use across a broad range of frequencies.