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Our PTFE Products

Radial shaft seals with one or more PTFE sealing lip(s) are designed to withstand aggressive environments, high temperatures, high pressures and dry running that traditional radial shaft seals made of elastomeric sealing lip materials cannot withstand. Many of the PTFE compounds are FDA approved. Main advantages of PTFE seals include:
  • High chemical resistance
  • Withstand speeds up to 30 m/s (5 900 ft/min)
  • Wide operating temperature range, –70 to +250 °C (–95 to +480 °F)
  • Withstand pressures up to 3,5 MPa (500 psi)
  • Withstand dry running

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Typical Properties
Material Codes

PTFE materials

The selection of seal materials typically requires a compromise between advantages and disadvantages. There are hundreds of different PTFE materials with a variety of fillers. Common fillers include glass fibre, carbon, graphite, molybdenum disulphide, metal oxides and various polymers. Each possesses different properties, appropriate for different applications and service conditions. Common to all filled PTFE materials are their improved resistance to wear and deformation.

Unfilled PTFE provides, in most cases, a lower coefficient of friction than a filled PTFE material and the lowest degree of wear of the seal counterface. However, a sealing lip made of an unfilled PTFE material has limited resistance to wear and deformation under load.

Selecting the appropriate material for the metal case and the O-ring(s) is also of significant importance to achieving satisfactory sealing performance. Contact All Seals for additional information.

Installation

Special care must be taken during handling and installation of PTFE seals.

Size range and availability

The majority of PTFE radial shaft seals from All Seals are made to order to meet the demands of each application. There are, however, certain standard sizes within the ranges of approximately 6 to 200 mm (0.250 to 8 in.) shaft diameter and approximately 16 to 230 mm (0.630 to 9 in.) bore diameter. Contact All Seals for detailed information regarding designs and sizes.

PTFE Fillers & Addititives - Overview

Here's an overview of PTFE fillers:

  • Polyimide is another polymeric filler offering superior wear and abrasion resistance. Polyimide-filled PTFE compounds have about the lowest friction properties of all filled PTFE materials, so they provide great performance in non-lubricated (dry) applications. They will not abrade mating surfaces (even soft materials such as brass, stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic). Polyimide is one of the most expensive PTFE fillers, however.

    Other fillers include calcium fluoride (CaF2), which is specifically used in hydrofluoric acid (HF) service, and alumina (Al2O3), which can improve the mechanical properties of compounds destined for high voltage applications. Alumina-filled compounds are very abrasive.

Spring Energized Seals
     
     
     
Rulon® (Filled PTFE) Specifications
Rulon ® is the Saint Gobain Performance Plastics tradename for a family of reinforced proprietary PTFE compounds. This unique family of materials offers the combination of high compressive strengths, low coefficient of friction, and excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance while running without lubrication. These materials are used in bearing and seal applications at temperature extremes from -400°F to +500°F (-240°C to +260°C) with or without additional lubricants. Rulon ® materials also have the unique property of no "slip stick" --- no erratic motion at low speeds. 
RULON ® GRADES 
Rulon ® LR
The best known, most widely used Rulon formulation. Rulon ® LR has a long reputation for high wear resistance, low friction, good electrical properties and chemical inertness. Not only does it make a great sleeve, flange or thrust bearing, it can also be bonded to nearly any surface to provide wear resistance and reduce friction. MAROON in color. 

Rulon ® J
This is the best Rulon grade for aluminum and soft mating surfaces. Rulon ® J provides the lowest coefficient of friction of all Rulons, and provides good wear and abrasion resistance. Because this grade is "all plastic", it can be run on non-ferrous and non-metallic mating surfaces such as 316 Stainless, brass, and other plastics. It is used in both bearing and seal applications, but is generally not suitable for use in alkaline or oxidizing acid solutions. DULL GOLD in color. 

Rulon ® 641
This FDA compliant material was specifically developed for food and drug applications. Rulon ® 641 is designed to run dry without any moisture or lubrication. WHITE in color. 

Rulon ® AR
This was the first commercially available reinforced PTFE and is still quite popular. Rulon ® AR offers the best combination of flexibility and load-carrying properties. It has high wear resistance, low friction, and good electrically insulative and chemical properties. Since, its fillers are ceramic in nature, mating surfaces should be RC35 or harder. It is and used in seals, piston cups, and some bearings. MAROON in color. 

Rulon ® 142
A material for extremely heavy loads. Rulon ® 142 is ideal for linear bearing applications such as slideways in machine tools and heavy equipment, and may also be used in expansion joints and bridge pads. This material provides low friction, excellent unlubricated wear properties and good heat dissipation and is etched one side for adhesive bonding to the steel substrate. Rulon ® 142 competes with Busak+Shamban's Turcite ® B Slydway ® product. TURQUOISE in color with a bronze tint. 

Rulon ® 123
This FDA compliant material is excellent for wet or submerged applications. Rulon ® 123 provides excellent service against soft and non-ferrous mating surfaces. BLACK in color. 

NOTE: Other specialized Rulon ® grades are also available for chemical environments, higher loads, severe wear, or custom applications. Contact us for more information!

TYPICAL PROPERTIES of RULON® filled PTFE 

ASTM or UL test Property Rulon® LR
(maroon)
Rulon® J
(gold)
Rulon® 641
(white)
Rulon® AR
(maroon)
PHYSICAL
D792 Density (lb/in³)
(g/cm³)
0.082
2.27
0.070
1.95
0.081
2.25
0.081
2.24
D2240 Hardness, Shore D 60-75 60 60 60-75
D570 Water Absorption, 24 hrs (%) 0 0 0 0
MECHANICAL
D1457 Tensile Strength (psi) 1,500 2,000 2,000 2,000
D1457 Tensile Elongation at Yield (%) 150 180 175 175
D256 IZOD Notched Impact (ft-lb/in) 6.0 - - 6.0
THERMAL
D696 Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion
(x 10-5 in./in./°F)
varies widely
with temperature
Cenco-Fitch Thermal Conductivity
(BTU-in/ft²-hr-°F)
(x 10-4 cal/cm-sec-°C)

2.30
7.92

1.70
5.86

2.60
8.96

2.30
7.92
D635 Flammability (in/min) None None None None
ELECTRICAL
D149 Dielectric Strength (V/mil) short time, .08" thick 400-500 200 - 400-500
D150 Dielectric Constant at 1 MHz 2.5 2.4 - 2.5
D150 Dissipation Factor at 1 MHz 0.003 0.001 - 0.003
D257 Surface Resistivity (ohm-cm) at 50% RH 2 x 1013 6 x 1018 - 2 x 1013
D257 Volume Resistivity (ohm-cm) at 50% RH 1 x 1015 8 x 1018 - 1 x 1015
RECOMMENDED OPERATING LIMITS
Maximum Load (psi) 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000
Maximum Velocity with No Pressure (ft/min) 400 400 400 400
Maximum PV Rating (psi x ft/min) 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
Maximum Operating Temp (°F / °C) 500 / 260 500 / 260 500 / 260 500 / 260
Minimum Operating Temp (°F / °C) -450 / -240 -450 / -240 -450 / -240 -450 / -240
Minimum Mating Surface Hardness (Rockwell) C35 B25 B25 C35
 
Tetrafluor General Brochure
Tetrafluor® Advanced Seals & Polymers General Brochure 
A quick product overview of Tetrafluor high-performance seals, rings, tubes, rods, skived tape and film, and other custom-machined components.
PDF Document, 2 pages – 203 KB – download now arrows

Tetrafluor General Brochure

Tetrafluor® Advanced Polymers Enhanced General Brochure 
A more in-depth product overview of Tetrafluor high-performance seals, rings, tubes, rods, skived tape and film, and other custom-machined components.
PDF Document, 8 pages – 1.2 MB – download now arrows

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Tetrafluor® Seal Selector Handbook 
Let us help you choose the best material and design from our large selection of high-performance, chemically compatible materials. 
PDF Document – 9.8 MB – download now arrows

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Metaplast® Spring-Energized PTFE Seals 
Industry-leading MetaPlast seals are metallic-spring energized to ensure positive seating and exceptional performance in severe-duty applications.
PDF Document – 59 pages, 3.3 MB – download now arrows

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PolyGlyde™ Self-Lubricating Seals 
Perfect for high-heat and low-lublication environments, our PolyGlyde self-lubricating seals outperform traditional seals in longevity and reduced heat generation. PDF Document, 2 pages – 165 KB – download now arrows

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Metallic Static Seals Catalog 
V-type seals, suitable for operation from cyrogenic temperatures to 1000 degrees F and higher, were developed with the user in mind – no special cavities, finishes, or complex flange arrangements are required. PDF Document, 16 pages – 875 KB – download now arrows

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PTFE Back-Up Rings Catalog 
CoorsTek engineers and manufactures a wide range of back-up ring designs – made from high-quality, long-wearing polymer materials to meet today's application requirements. PDF Document – 1.4 MB – download now arrows

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Tetralon® Polymer Bearings & Bushings Catalog 
Tetralon bearings offer component design and performance solutions in most applications burdened by temperature extremes, high friction and wear, corrosion or lubrication problems. PDF Document, 28 pages – 2.3 MB – download now arrows

PTFE O-Rings Catalog

PTFE O-Rings Catalog 
CoorsTek engineers and manufactures a wide range of back-up ring designs – made from high-quality, long-wearing polymer materials to meet today's application requirements. PDF Document – 13 pages, 2.0 MB – download now arrows 

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