TFE Tetrafluoroethylene

This is the original, totally fluorinated thermoplastic that provided an entirely new range of properties in plastic materials. It remains the most difficult of the fluorocarbons to work and produce in usable form. In return, it has the highest temperature stability and greater assurance of resistance to various aggressive environments at high temperature. Permeation of this product is sometimes no better than many of the newer materials, depending on the specific exposure.

The material has adequate heat resistance to 290 °C and has actually been used in severe chemical service as high as this temperature. Problems associated with thermal cycling when going through these temperatures were previously discussed.