PTFE films are made using a special process called skiving. Films come in thicknesses of 0.04mm to 0.1mm and are primarily used in insulation. Films are usually made using virgin PTFE, although it is possible to use other grades, if required.

Properties of PTFE film include:

1. High tensile strength – up to 30Mpa is achievable
2. Excellent insulation – break-down voltages in excess of 50Kv/mm
3. High tensile elongation – values in excess of 350% are possible

Good quality skived films depend on both the moulding and skiving to be done using the right techniques and equipments. The properties of the end product are defined in the moulding phase, while the consistency of thickness and the absence of pinholes are controlled for during skiving.

Expanded PTFE (ePTFE) is a highly specialised product manufactured by only a handful of companies in the world. The uniqueness of its properties makes it a highly sought after material in applications such as:

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. Joint sealing
. High temperature gaskets
. Vibration dampening
. Corrosion protection

[www.polyfluoroltd.com] ePTFE is manufactured by a special process and is available in both mono-axial and bi-axial forms. Material can be supplied as strips (adhesive and non- adhesive) and as sheets in widths up to 1500mm. Sheets can be further punched or cut into gaskets to suit end-user dimensions

Membranes and filters are available in roll from or punched to size and come with a range of different properties. Membranes are manufactured in a number of different processed. While some membranes are made using bi-axially stretched ePTFE, others are made with pure virgin PTFE, blended to attain porosity and skived to form a porous PTFE layer.

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Key features include:

• . Thicknesses as low as 0.05mm, going up to 20mm
• . Pore sizes as low as 0.2 microns, going up to >100 microns
• . Low permeability membranes designed to restrict the flow of liquids, but allow gas to pass through
• . High-temperature membranes

Membranes are available in customised variants to allow the end-customer to select the product most suited to the specific application involved.