What happens to PTFE when heated?

Author: Vita Huels  |  Last update: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

At temperatures above 650–700 °C (1,200–1,290 °F) PTFE undergoes depolymerization. However, it begins to decompose at about 260 °C (500 °F) through 350 °C (662 °F), and pyrolysis occurs at temperatures above 400 °C (752 °F). The coefficient of friction of plastics is usually measured against polished steel.

What happens when PTFE gets too hot?

When PTFE is heated to very high temperatures, especially above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, it can break into fine particles that can get into the lungs and cause respiratory symptoms, according to Kelly Krisna Johnson-Arbor, MD, a medical toxicologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

What can destroy PTFE?

Certain alkali metals and fluorinating agents such as xenon difluoride and cobalt (III) fluoride can damage PTFE, but otherwise it is highly resistant.

What is the heat damage of PTFE?

PTFE can safely operate within a temperature range of -328°F to 500°F (-200°C to 260°C). When temperatures exceed 500°F (260°C), PTFE starts to lose its structural integrity and can become damaged.

How much heat can PTFE handle?

With PTFE temperature limit being -400 and the maximum temperature at +550, it can maintain structural integrity and perform perfectly at extreme temperatures. The only thing is that you need to keep an eye out for possible shrinkage.

PTFE/Teflon should never be used near high heat.

At what temperature does PTFE degrade?

While PTFE is stable at lower temperatures, it begins to deteriorate at temperatures of about 260 °C (500 °F), it decomposes above 350 °C (662 °F), and pyrolysis occurs at temperatures above 400 °C (752 °F).

Is PTFE safe when heated?

PTFE-coated cookware is generally considered safe for home use as long as it is not heated above 600℉. At such high temperatures, PTFE can release harmful fumes that could cause symptoms like fever, chills, and headaches if inhaled.

What temperature is PTFE toxic?

When PTFE is heated above 450 °C the pyrolysis products are different and inhalation may cause acute lung injury. Symptoms are flu-like (chills, headaches and fevers) with chest tightness and mild cough. Onset occurs about 4 to 8 hours after exposure to the pyrolysis products of PTFE.

Is PTFE resistant to heat?

With chemical inertness and temperature resistance ranging from -200 to 260 °C (-328 to 500 °F), Teflon™ fluoropolymers like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) offer nearly unmatched versatility across applications.

What degrades PTFE?

Thermal ageing negatively influences the structure and crystallinity of PTFE while cleaning agents and mechanical wear further increase the degradation rates of such coatings.

Why is PTFE bad?

At normal cooking temperatures, PTFE-coated cookware releases various gases and chemicals that present mild to severe toxicity. Only few studies describe the toxicity of PTFE but without solid conclusions. The toxicity and fate of ingested PTFE coatings are also not understood.

Is PTFE banned in Europe?

Not exactly, but it's definitely under the microscope. While Teflon itself isn't banned, the chemicals used in its production, like PFOA, have faced restrictions due to health concerns. The EU is working on broader regulations to limit PFAS, which includes Teflon's main component, PTFE.

Does PTFE shrink with heat?

PTFE heat shrink tubing requires approximately 650 °F ± 25 °F (340 °C ± 5 °C) to initiate shrinkage. While this is a liberally safe range, these temperatures are approximate. Actual shrink temperatures may vary based on dimensions and wall thickness of the tubing, methods heat of application, and other factors.

What happens to PTFE at high temperatures?

Thermal stability of PTFE

PTFE is one of the most thermally stable plastic materials. There are no appreciable decompositions at 260°C, so that PTFE, at this temperature, still possesses most part of its properties. Appreciable decomposition begins at over 400°C.

What is the difference between PTFE and Teflon?

Essentially, the only difference lies in the name. PTFE is the shortened name of the chemical polytetrafluoroethylene, and Teflon is the trade name of the same polymer. If you are looking for a highly flexible, non-stick material that is chemical, electrical and thermal resistant, look no further than PTFE.

Does high heat ruin Teflon?

Myth: High heat will damage the pan's nonstick finish. Fact: Nonstick pans with Teflon™ coatings can stand the heat. You can heat a nonstick pan up to 260 °C (500 °F) without damaging the finish.

What temperature does PTFE degrade?

PTFE doesnt melt until over 300 degrees and doesnt Pyrolyse until over 400°C so there is not really any issue for normal 3d printing use and this is also why all metal hot ends exist for higher temperature materials.

What attacks PTFE?

PTFE is affected by some alkali metals (molten or in solution) and rare fluorinated compounds at high temperatures and/or pressures. Some organic and halogenated solvents are absorbed causing minor dimensional changes but these effects are physical and also reversible.

Does PTFE expand with heat?

In the case of PTFE, the rate of thermal expansion is lower below 77°F/25°C and becomes increasingly higher above 77°F/25°C.

What is the maximum temperature for PTFE coating?

PTFE Coating Systems Withstand Exceptionally High Temperatures and Harsh Chemicals. Teflon™ PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) industrial coatings have: The highest operating temperature of any fluoropolymer (260 °C [500 °F])

What happens if you burn PTFE?

PTFE Becomes Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Fluoride

The result: If PTFE is incinerated at temperatures that are typical for a household waste incineration plant, no environmentally hazardous chemicals are released.

What are the disadvantages of PTFE?

Limitations of PTFE:
  • Non-melt processable material.
  • Low tensile yield strength and modulus (when compared to PEEK, PPS and LCP)
  • High wear behaviour in unfilled state.
  • Not weldable.
  • Sensitivity to creep and abrasion.
  • Low radiation resistance.

When was Teflon banned?

Teflon cookware made before 2013 may be toxic

All that was enough for most manufacturers to halt the production of nonstick coatings using PFOA around 2002. Teflon using PFOA wasn't officially banned in the United States until 2014. Europe banned it in 2008.

Is PTFE considered a PFAS?

PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene (promise you don't need to remember that), belongs to a subgroup of PFAS called fluorinated polymers, and PTFE is by far the most popular one in the group; it makes up approximately half the market.

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