Teflon™ PTFE products are commonly found in a number of different applications and are particularly popular because of their unique set of properties, which includes resistance to both water and oil, and an extremely low coefficient of friction. Moreover, the material’s heat and chemical resistance coupled with its fairly high strength makes it both durable and dependable.
Founded in 1927, New Process Fibre (NPF) is an industry leader in non-metallic stamping solutions. Throughout our over 90-year history, we’ve dedicated ourselves to continuously improving the non-metallic stamping process to ensure maximum product quality and cost-effectiveness. Equipped with a manufacturing facility with over 10,000 washers dies and 75 punch presses, our team has the equipment necessary to complete customer requests accurately and quickly, even for large-scale or expedited orders.
One of our main product offerings is non-metallic washers—i.e., plastic or fiber disk-shaped hardware components featuring a center hole. When used alongside a compatible fastener—such as a nut or bolt—washers serve several functions including: 1) ensuring the even distribution of pressure across the fastened surface, 2) acting as a spacer or isolator, and 3) mitigating the risk of the assembly loosening due to vibration and other environmental factors.
Washers are available in a variety of different materials to suit varying environmental and operating conditions. Although many industry professionals employ metallic washers, non-metallic washers, such as those made from nylon or PTFE, are becoming increasingly popular. In particular, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)—also known by the brand name Teflon™—offers several advantages when used for the manufacture of washers, including:
These qualities, among others, make Teflon™ washers well-suited for applications across a diverse set of industries. The following page outlines some of the industrial applications of Teflon™ washers and how they compare to other types of washers.
Teflon™ is an outstanding thermal insulator and the most chemically resistant plastic available today. In fact, it is one of the only known materials that is completely impervious to damage from almost all corrosive fluids.
Furthermore, it can handle up to 500 volts per mil and temperatures up to 600 degrees F while maintaining dimensional stability, resistance against creep, and the anti-frictional properties for which the product is so well known. This means that with these products, one can expect consistent, long lasting performance.
Compared to other nonmetallic materials, it is relatively expensive — this is partly because it has some of the most beneficial properties of any nonmetallic material and is as such in high demand.
It also has the lowest coefficient of friction of any solid material, even at high speeds, which means that it often does not require lubrication. In cases where higher levels of lubrication are desired, you only need to lubricate Teflon™ PTFE products once — products made from the material are virtually maintenance-free.
Teflon™ washers find application in virtually every industry, including in the following:
When designing and assembling automobiles, manufacturers must balance competing needs. For example, they need to reduce car weight to minimize emissions and improve fuel efficiency but also incorporate non-critical parts to increase durability, longevity, and operator safety. Teflon™ washers enable them to fulfill both requirements; the lighter material allows them to satisfy all washer functions without adding significantly to the total weight of the car.
The characteristics of Teflon™ make it well-suited for use in the automotive industry:
HVAC systems employed in industrial, commercial, and residential facilities experience significant amounts of vibrations due to moving systems parts and air currents. These vibrations can result in premature wear and fatigue in individual components, especially fasteners located at connection points. Using durable washers, such as those made of Teflon™, can help mitigate the vibrations produced to protect critical joints.
Industry professionals in the plumbing industry generally turn to non-metallic washers for their operations due to the near-constant exposure of equipment and systems to water and other fluids. Non-metallic washers offer greater resistance to water-related issues such as corrosion. Additionally, Teflon™’s near-complete resistance to water and oil and temperatures up to 600° F allow it to retain its form and integrity even when exposed to excessive moisture and high heat.
Some of the functions Teflon™ washers serve in the plumbing industry include:
As an electrically insulative material with high temperature resistance and good dielectric properties, PTFE is an excellent option for electronics and electronic assemblies. Manufacturers can use Teflon™ washers to build assemblies while minimizing the risk of electrical shock or electricity not following predefined circuitry courses throughout products. A common application for PTFE washers in electronics is within circuit boards, where their heat resistance and insulating characteristics are particularly valuable due to the boards’ compact configuration.
Food processing equipment includes a wide array of electrical and moving components. Teflon™ washers can withstand exposure to heat during applications like batch cooking, food processing, and heat-sealing packaging without degrading. With the material’s low coefficient of friction, equipment that relies on Teflon™ washers will be less likely to stick, build up heat, or malfunction. In addition to being an FDA-approved material, Nonstick Teflon™ washers are even easy to clean—a critical characteristic in the highly regulated food production industry. Being chemically inert and resistant to corrosion, Teflon™ is ideal for its ability to preserve product integrity and safety.
Teflon™ washers find application in virtually every industry, including in the following:
When designing and assembling automobiles, manufacturers must balance competing needs. For example, they need to reduce car weight to minimize emissions and improve fuel efficiency but also incorporate non-critical parts to increase durability, longevity, and operator safety. Teflon™ washers enable them to fulfill both requirements; the lighter material allows them to satisfy all washer functions without adding significantly to the total weight of the car.
The characteristics of Teflon™ make it well-suited for use in the automotive industry:
HVAC systems employed in industrial, commercial, and residential facilities experience significant amounts of vibrations due to moving systems parts and air currents. These vibrations can result in premature wear and fatigue in individual components, especially fasteners located at connection points. Using durable washers, such as those made of Teflon™, can help mitigate the vibrations produced to protect critical joints.
Industry professionals in the plumbing industry generally turn to non-metallic washers for their operations due to the near-constant exposure of equipment and systems to water and other fluids. Non-metallic washers offer greater resistance to water-related issues such as corrosion. Additionally, Teflon™’s near-complete resistance to water and oil and temperatures up to 600° F allow it to retain its form and integrity even when exposed to excessive moisture and high heat.
Some of the functions Teflon™ washers serve in the plumbing industry include:
As an electrically insulative material with high temperature resistance and good dielectric properties, PTFE is an excellent option for electronics and electronic assemblies. Manufacturers can use Teflon™ washers to build assemblies while minimizing the risk of electrical shock or electricity not following predefined circuitry courses throughout products. A common application for PTFE washers in electronics is within circuit boards, where their heat resistance and insulating characteristics are particularly valuable due to the boards’ compact configuration.
Food processing equipment includes a wide array of electrical and moving components. Teflon™ washers can withstand exposure to heat during applications like batch cooking, food processing, and heat-sealing packaging without degrading. With the material’s low coefficient of friction, equipment that relies on Teflon™ washers will be less likely to stick, build up heat, or malfunction. In addition to being an FDA-approved material, Nonstick Teflon™ washers are even easy to clean—a critical characteristic in the highly regulated food production industry. Being chemically inert and resistant to corrosion, Teflon™ is ideal for its ability to preserve product integrity and safety.
Two varieties of specialty washers are virgin PTFE washers and PTFE sealing washers. Virgin Teflon™, which is PTFE in its unfilled state, offers all of the positive attributes of reprocessed Teflon™ but to a higher degree. Due to its 100% purity, virgin PTFE has excellent thermal stability, very low levels of friction, and high electrical insulation capabilities. Recycled PTFE is more affordable but can no longer offer the same degree of protection and long-lasting functionality.
Because of how inert virgin PTFE is, it’s ideal for use in scientific equipment, food processing systems, and precision electronics that can’t afford the variability of reprocessed PTFE. At New Process Fibre, our production team uses only virgin Teflon™ resin to produce Teflon™ washers of the highest possible quality.
Then there are PTFE sealing washers. General washers provide a buffer between mating components to mitigate abrasion, scratches, and other physical damage. Sealing gaskets offer additional functionality by creating a leak-tight seal that, due to PTFE’s inertness again, is less likely to chemically degrade. In addition to their chemical resistance, PTFE sealing washers deliver reduced friction and the ability to retain sealing capabilities at high temperatures, benefits that rubber washers can’t always achieve.
Some common use cases for PTFE sealing washers are electrical and electronic assemblies, chemical processing equipment, pharmaceutical production, and food processing applications. Such projects often involve highly reactive chemicals and a wide range of temperatures throughout processing, and facilities need PTFE sealing washers they can rely on for long-term performance.
For a number of years, metal served as the default material for washers. However, the introduction of durable and reliable plastics, such as Teflon™, has led to the acceptance of plastics as a suitable alternative.
Teflon™ offers several advantages over metals when used in the manufacture of washers. For example, it demonstrates:
Compared to metal, nylon and Teflon™ offer greater application versatility and durability when used in the manufacture of washers. While both are synthetic polymer materials with excellent mechanical strength and frictional resistance, they vary in regard to best use cases due to the differences in their manufacture and, consequently, their physical and chemical characteristics. For example:
Teflon is hydrophobic, meaning it resists mixing with water. Compared to nylon, it has a higher melting and better chemical resistance. These qualities make it suitable for equipment systems regularly exposed to moisture or requiring significant amounts of lubrication.
Nylon is hydrophilic, meaning it readily mixes with water. Compared to Teflon™, it demonstrates better electrical conductivity.
Manufacturers employ a few different methods to produce Teflon™ washers. Two of the most common manufacturing methods are compression molding and machining.
The compression molding process employs a compression mold and press to stamp washers from Teflon™ material. Compared to other manufacturing processes, such as injection molding, compression molding offers several advantages, including:
The process is suitable for producing identical parts in high volumes from batch to batch.
Compression stamping equipment can achieve up to 400 strokes/minute, enabling the production of hundreds of thousands of washers each day.
Compared to the injection molding process, which requires new molds for each part, the compression molding process only requires adjustments to the punch press to accommodate product changes. This quality helps lower overall tooling costs.
The machining process is often used in conjunction with the compression molding process. Industry professionals use compression molding to create stock and near-net shapes, which then proceed to the machining stage to achieve their final forms. Employing machining allows for the manufacture of more precise washers with tighter tolerances.
For over nine decades, New Process Fibre has provided customers with high-quality and innovative non-metallic solutions, including Teflon™ washers. Our Teflon™ washers find application in a wide range of industries—including automotive, HVAC, and plumbing—providing durable and reliable performance even when exposed to water, oil, chemicals, and high heat.
For general information on Teflon™ washers, view our FAQs section below or contact our team today. If you have specific questions about our washer products, access our Teflon™ washers catalog or request a quote.
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