We recently answered a question via our Ask the Experts forum from a client searching for a tape with outstanding wear qualities.  Rulon tapes outperform all products in their category.  In rotation tests, this material offered 500x  wear resistance, and very low friction.  Rulon tapes are available in both low temperature acrylic and high-temperature, clean-release silicone adhesive.

Rulon® tapes are manufactured from skived, PTFE films and are available in thicknesses ranging from 0.002 in. to 0.260 in. Standard widths are 6” or 12” and custom widths are available.   All tapes can be chemically etched to provide a bondable surface and just the right tack strength. 

Consider Rulon tape for use in liners, and chute and rail coverings.  You can also review our Rulon Comparison Chart for specifications on different grades. 

Q: We are designing plane bearings made of Rulon®, what are some key considerations in terms of coefficient of friction?
 
A:   This is a question that we hear often regarding Rulon, Ultraflon and other PTFE-filled materials.   The short answer is that these design materials are exceptions to the general rules of friction.  With most materials, you can presume that higher loads and higher speeds would mean higher friction.  But with PTFE-filled materials, the opposite is true; the higher the load and speed, the lower the friction. This is important to keep in mind when designing, since surface contact area can be reduced dramatically to optimize friction properties.  
 
We’ve prepared a Coefficient of Friction video that covers this topic in much greater detail, but also invite you to reach out to Our Experts to review your application needs.

I recently had a call about Fluoroloy H from one of our engineering partners.  Fluoroloy H is also known as Rulon H, and is one of the leading PTFE-filled products in terms of electrical properties.

The material is a unique combination of both ceramics and PTFE, and was originally developed for UHF heat-sinking applications.   It gives a slightly-better dielectric constant compared to standard Teflon, and has about 8x the thermal conductivity of virgin PTFE.  It is easy to machine and is available in rod, sheet and tape.

Fluoroloy has high insulative properties, and is widely used in the microwave industry as an alternative to virgin and glass-filled PTFE.

Did you know there are over 300 varieties of Rulon?  Download your free copy of our Rulon Whitepaper to learn more about the most-common formulas.

All of us in the fluoropolymer business are suffering what could be called a perfect storm of bad news! First, the raw material situation. One of the key ingredients in the processing of fluoropolymers is a mineral called fluorspar. This is a material that is critical in the production of not only fluoropolymers but pharmaceuticals, hydrofluoric acid, refrigerants and any other product that requires a fluorine based stock. China controls most of the worlds resources on this mineral and it became part of a war of words and ultimately manipulation in the world market. Countries, including the USA, are now scrambling to reopen old or open new mining resources of this critical mineral. So this shortage, as well as a worldwide surge in demand for fluoropolymers and a reduction in processors of the PTFE resin, all leads  to this very difficult situation. The bad news is there is no end in sight. The EU has declared fluorspar to be on it’s worldwide shortage list until 2030. So we all  will have to deal with this out of control pricing escalation for years to come. Best if you call Tri Star and place blanket orders for your requirements for the future!!

TriStar Plastics today announced it has been named as the exclusive, North American distributor of the Rulon®, Rulon® Bearings and Fluoroloy® family of bearing products by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. This exclusive agreement is the culmination of a nearly 30-year partnership between TriStar and Saint-Gobain. "We are honored to broaden our relationship with Saint-Gobain through an exclusive parnership agreement," said Richard Cedrone, CEO of TriStar Plastics. "The Rulon solution offers unique benefits to our customers across a broad-range of industries, including food and beverage, agriculture, medical device and manufacturing. This partnership is a natural step in allowing us to better serve our customers."

Rulon and Fluoroloy bearing materials excel in heavy-duty and high-load applications by offering a combination of low coefficient of friction and excellent abrasion and corrosion-resistance. They also outperform and outlast other materials, including metal, and are self-lubricating for enhanced efficiency and reduced maintenance costs.

"At a time when equipment manufacturers are looking for a competitive edge and a way to reduce expenses, TriStar brings a tremendous amount of knowledge to the table," said Victor Lapinski, North American Distribution Manager at Saint-Gobains' Seals Division. "Their technical expertise, multiple distribution centers, and commitment to customer service make them an ideal choice and an elite business partner." The agreement is effective immediately.

Molecular weight and crystallinity are two factors in PTFE that determine many of it's performance qualities. Both of these properties are highly dependant on the sintering operation of the PTFE production. If the material is cooked (sintered) too long or at too high a temperature it can degrade the polymer. Molecular weight is a measure of the polymer chain length and it affects flex life, tensile strength and elongation. As molecular weight increases so do these properties and paying attention to gel temperatures and dwell times during sintering is extra critical.

Crystallinity of PTFE can vary considerably depending on processing. This value can be seen in small variations in the specific gravity although in practice most PTFE materials fall in the 50-60 percent crystalline percentage. Increasing crystallinity decreases flex life, increases compressive stress and decreases recovery values, permeability and wear life. Other properties of PTFE, such as thermal, chemical, electrical and friction, are not generally affected by crystallinity changes.

So, sintering and other processing steps do a make a difference in deterimining the quality of PTFE. If you need to maximize the performance of your PTFE parts, including Rulon, Fluorosint, Ultraflon or even generic products, be sure you contact Tri Star Plastics first. We can help you select the right material and the right process.