Do you know what PTFE is? Does polytetrafluoroethylene, the full name of that acronym, ring any bells? It’s not a household term so you may be shaking your head right now.

How about Teflon? Now that term probably does sound familiar. Just like many people call bandages Band-Aids and tissues Kleenex, most people call PTFE coatings by the brand name Teflon.

Likewise, most people associate Teflon with non-stick coatings on frying pans. However, there are plenty of other uses for a good non-stick coating and there are many industries that benefit from it. Today, let’s take a look at the benefits of Teflon coated fasteners.

1. A Slippery Solution

PTFE’s claim to fame is that it is slippery and other materials don’t stick to it. The material has the third lowest coefficient of friction of any known solid material. That’s why even sticky eggs will slide right out of a Teflon coated frying pan. 

However, getting perfect eggs isn’t the only reason you may want to reduce friction between objects. Teflon coated fasteners are easier to work with than traditional ones. You don’t have to torque on them as much to install and they are easier to remove if necessary.

Once you’ve worked with Teflon coated fasteners, it’s unlikely you’ll ever want to go back to using normal ones again!

2. Temperature Resistance

PTFE has an impressive range of temperature resistance. Few materials can withstand temperatures ranging from -270 degrees to 315 degrees Celsius (-454 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit) like Teflon can. 

Keep in mind that Teflon will begin to deteriorate if subjected to high temperatures for a long time. It can maintain itself well up to 260 degrees C (500 degrees F). After that, it can withstand the hotter temperatures we’ve mentioned, but for shorter periods of time.

This is one of the reasons that Teflon is so popular for frying pans and bakeware. Not only does Teflon make it easy to get your tasty creation out of the pan, but also it can easily take the heat put out by your oven.

3. Chemical Resistance

In many industrial applications, it is important to use a material that can withstand chemical exposure. You never know when something could get spilled and start causing structural integrity problems. 

Teflon is very resistant to many different chemicals. Even acids like acetone and hydrochloric acid (stomach acid) don’t eat through Teflon. Check out this chart to get an idea of the long list of chemicals that are compatible with Teflon.

4. Oxidation Resistance

In addition, Teflon is extremely resistant to oxidation (rust). One of the quickest ways to make a fastener useless is to allow it to rust. A Teflon coating helps keep that from happening and keeps your fastener sturdy and strong for longer.

5. Extra Protection

There are various factors that affect the lifespan of nuts and bolts. In fact, the lifespan of a particular fastener can vary quite a bit depending on the application it is used for. However, in many cases, the lifespan is less than ideal.

Adding a Teflon coating is an excellent way to boost the lifespan of your fasteners. The reduced friction afforded by a slippery, non-stick coating means less torquing on them as you install (or remove) your fasteners.

Teflon is so slippery that even geckos can’t stick to it. If you didn’t know, geckos can stick to almost everything. 

The good news is that dirt can’t stick to it either so your fasteners will stay cleaner. This also helps extend the fastener’s lifespan and keep it from rusting.

6. Less Likely to Get Stuck

Have you ever tried to get out a bolt that has been in place so long it is firmly stuck where it is? It’s a pain and slows down your work process quite a bit. 

You can avoid this problem in the first place by using Teflon coated fasteners. Oxidation is one of the biggest reasons that fasteners get stuck. Since Teflon helps keep oxidation at bay, there’s less chance of getting stuck.

7. Durability

In addition to PTFE’s resistance to corrosion, temperature, and oxidation, it is also resistant to damage from ultraviolet rays. All of this together means that Teflon coated fasteners can take a lot of abuse from the elements. 

Through sun, wind, rain, ice, and snow you can count on Teflon coated fasteners to hold up much better in comparison to regular bolts.  

8. Improved Electrical Properties

PTFE has a high dielectric strength. This means that it inhibits the passage of electrical current. The higher the dielectric strength of a material, the less that material allows electrical current to flow. Thus, Teflon is an excellent insulator.

Teflon coated fasteners are an excellent choice when you want to ensure that electricity can’t freely flow through your fasteners.

9. Non-Flammable

We’ve already mentioned that Teflon can take the heat. The same thing that makes it effective even at high temperatures makes it a non-flammable material. This is its high melting point and auto-ignition temperature. 

Even when subjected to extremely high temperatures, Teflon will decompose rather than combust.

Benefits of Teflon Coated Fasteners for Your Project

As you can see, there are many benefits of Teflon coated fasteners for your next project.

If you’re wondering where you can find superior quality Teflon coatings, look no further. Here at Performance Engineered Components, we offer only the best in Teflon coated fasteners.

To get more information on how to get the right fasteners for your project, feel free to check out this buyer’s guide

Still have questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’ll be happy to help!