Polytetrafluoroethylene (Pure / Unfilled)
Virgin PTFE
Virgin PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is the benchmark fluoropolymer gasket material, offering near-universal chemical resistance and an exceptionally wide temperature range. We stock virgin PTFE sheet in a broad range of thicknesses for chemical processing, pharmaceutical, food, and general industrial sealing applications.
At a Glance
Temperature Range
-200 °C to +260 °C continuous
Thickness Range
0.25 mm to 16 mm
Available Forms
Colours
Brands We Stock
Technical Properties
Typical values across stocked grades. Specific grade data sheets available on request.
Physical Characteristics
Density
2.13–2.22 g/cm³ (ASTM D792)
Tensile Strength
25–35 MPa (ASTM D4894)
Elongation at Break
250–400% (ASTM D4894)
Dielectric Strength
18–25 kV/mm (ASTM D149)
Chemical Resistance
Resistant To
- Near-universal acid resistance including concentrated sulphuric, hydrochloric, and hydrofluoric (oleum and hot concentrated nitric acid bound by concentration and temperature)
- Alkalis (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide) at all concentrations
- Organic solvents (acetone, MEK, toluene, xylene, chloroform)
- Fuels and petroleum products
- Oxidising agents at moderate concentration (chlorine, bromine, sodium hypochlorite ≤12.5%, hydrogen peroxide ≤30%)
- Water, steam, and brine
- Pharmaceutical and food-grade media
Limited Resistance
- Molten or dissolved alkali metals (sodium, potassium) at elevated temperature
- Oleum and hot concentrated nitric acid (concentration and temperature dependent)
Not Recommended
- Elemental fluorine gas at high pressure and temperature
- Interhalogen fluorinating agents (chlorine trifluoride ClF₃, bromine trifluoride BrF₃, oxygen difluoride OF₂)
- Molten alkali metals (sodium, potassium, lithium)
Environmental Ratings
Weather Resistance
Excellent. Completely inert to UV, ozone, and weathering
UV Resistance
Excellent. No degradation from UV exposure
Standards & Certifications
Standards Compliance
Certifications
Common Applications
- Chemical processing vessel and pipe gaskets
- Pharmaceutical reactor and pipeline seals
- Food and beverage processing gaskets (FDA grades)
- Highly corrosive acid and alkali service
- Cryogenic and low-temperature sealing
- High-purity water and solvent systems
- Laboratory and analytical equipment seals
- Glass-lined and enamel-coated flange gaskets
- Chlorine and bromine service
- General-purpose industrial gaskets where broad chemical resistance is required
Not Recommended For
- Cold-flows (creeps) under sustained compressive load; torque retightening may be required after initial bolt-up
- Poor creep resistance limits use in high-pressure or high-temperature bolted joints without retorque protocols
- Low mechanical strength compared to filled PTFE or CNAF, which limits suitability for high bolt loads
- Cannot be adhesive-bonded without sodium etching treatment
- Continuous-service limit is 260 °C; meaningful thermal decomposition begins around 400 °C, releasing hydrogen fluoride (HF), perfluoroisobutylene, and carbonyl fluoride (COF₂). Never expose to open flame
- Higher cost than CNAF or rubber for general-purpose sealing (consider alternatives where broad chemical resistance is not required)
Available Grades
Brands we stock: Unee, Enflon, Teflon
Standard Virgin PTFE Sheet
General-purpose unfilled PTFE sheet with the broadest chemical resistance of any common gasket material (only specialist FFKM grades like Kalrez 7275 outperform in narrow oxidiser services). Our highest-volume PTFE grade, suitable for the vast majority of chemical and pharmaceutical sealing applications.
Virgin PTFE FDA Grade
Food SafeFood-safe virgin PTFE sheet suitable for direct food contact and pharmaceutical applications. Meets FDA 21 CFR 177.1550 requirements.
Etched PTFE
Virgin PTFE sheet with one or both faces chemically etched (sodium-treated) to allow adhesive bonding to metal flanges and other substrates. Used where PTFE must be permanently bonded to a backing surface.
Unee Blue-Tint PTFE
Food SafeBlue-tinted virgin PTFE sheet for easy visual identification and fragment detection in food and pharmaceutical environments. Identical chemical and thermal performance to standard white grades.
Need Virgin PTFE?
We supply virgin ptfe in sheet, roll, and custom die-cut forms. Contact our team for pricing, data sheets, or technical assistance.
Disclaimer
This resource is provided for general engineering reference only and does not constitute professional advice, specification, or guarantee of performance. Actual results depend on specific application conditions. Universal Gaskets Pty Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability for decisions made based on this information. For full terms, see our Terms & Conditions.