High-Performance Plastic, High-Temperature Plastic, High-Performance Thermoplastic, High-Performance Polymer…However you refer to this range of materials, what makes them different to other types of plastic?
They are distinguished primarily by their temperature stability, but also their mechanical properties.
Often chosen for applications requiring good chemical resistance, performance at high temperatures, low coefficient of friction and high strength they can be found in many demanding applications across a variety of industries such as Oil & Gas, Aerospace, Nuclear and Chemical.
High-performance plastics include: PTFE, PCTFE, PEEK, PFA, FEP, ETFE, ECTFE, PPS, PES…
With our specialised processing equipment and wide tooling range, we are able to convert high performance and melt Fluoropolymer materials into semi-finished shapes for post machining or low to high volume of moulded components. With over 50 years of experience in the manufacture of PTFE, our range of engineering plastics and stock shapes is one of the most extensive in the world.
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To find out how we can support your projects contact info@fluorocarbon.co.uk
In industries where reliability is critical, material selection can make the difference between consistent performance and unexpected failure.
In oil and gas operations, where equipment runs continuously in some of the harshest environments on earth, reliability is everything. Unplanned downtime can cost operators hundreds of thousands per hour, impact production targets, and create significant safety risks.
In the oil and gas sector, sealing components operate under some of the toughest conditions on earth. Extreme pressures, corrosive chemicals, broad temperature swings and the constant risk of downtime. Selecting the right material is critical for safety, efficiency and long-term reliability.
The oil and gas industry operates at the intersection of extreme loads, harsh environments and zero-tolerance for failure. From topside decks and jackets to subsea structures, every moving or sliding interface must deliver predictable, low-friction performance across decades.
Renewable energy infrastructure must endure some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Offshore wind farms face relentless salt spray, extreme temperature shifts, and high mechanical loads.
The global energy landscape is evolving rapidly. Hydrogen, solar, and wind energy are no longer niche technologies, they are central to achieving a cleaner, more sustainable future.
The global shift toward hydrogen as a clean energy source brings exciting opportunities and equally demanding engineering challenges.
As the world accelerates toward cleaner energy, hydrogen has emerged as a key player in the global transition. Among the challenges, effective sealing stands out as a critical factor, and this is where advanced polymers make the difference.
In the aerospace industry, reliability is non-negotiable. From protecting components against extreme temperatures to ensuring long-lasting performance in corrosive or high-stress environments, coatings play a vital role in aircraft and spacecraft systems.
The aerospace industry demands materials and components that can withstand extreme conditions while delivering reliability, efficiency, and safety.
The aerospace industry is evolving at a rapid pace. From reusable spacecraft to ever-smaller, high-performance satellites, the demands placed on materials have never been greater.
When it comes to aerospace engineering, every gram counts. Whether in the skies or beyond Earth’s atmosphere, weight reduction, durability, and reliability are mission-critical.
In semiconductor fabrication, precision is everything. Each component within the process must perform flawlessly to ensure yield, reliability, and device performance.
The semiconductor industry relies on some of the most advanced technologies in the world to create the tiny, complex circuits that power everything from smartphones to satellites.
In semiconductor manufacturing, wet process systems play a critical role in wafer cleaning, etching, and surface preparation.
In aerospace engineering, where every gram matters and reliability is non-negotiable, material selection can mean the difference between flight and failure.
In high-stakes industries such as oil and gas, renewable energy, semiconductor, and aerospace, the choice of material isn’t just a technical decision, it’s a business-critical one.
As the demand for smaller, faster, and more powerful electronic devices continues to grow, the semiconductor industry constantly seeks more precise, efficient, and contamination-free manufacturing techniques.
As the world accelerates toward decarbonisation, hydrogen is emerging as a critical enabler of the clean energy transition.
In the precision-driven world of semiconductor fabrication, material performance is critical. PCTFE (Polychlorotrifluoroethylene) plays a vital role in ensuring system integrity, chemical resistance, and sealing reliability across the entire semiconductor process chain.
High-performance plastics are widely used in the semiconductor industry due to their excellent thermal stability, electrical insulation, chemical resistance, and mechanical strength.
At Fluorocarbon, we supply critical components used in sophisticated chip-processing equipment to Semicon OEM’s across the world.
PTFE (also referred to as Teflon), is known for its exceptional resistance to chemicals and high temperatures, making it an ideal choice for sealing applications in harsh environments. PTFE gaskets and washers are suitable for various sealing applications.
PTFE (also referred to as Teflon) is extremely resistant to the elements. Unlike other plastics’ UV resistance that can become brittle and crack when exposed to UV radiation, PTFE remains flexible and durable, making it ideal for many applications.
Updated 29/01/2026 Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, or Teflon® as it is often referred to, is a tough, ductile material with excellent thermal properties and outstanding resistance to chemicals and the passage of electric current. PTFE has an exceptionally low coefficient of friction, believed to be lower than any other solid.
We bust some common myths around PTFE, including processing techniques, recycling, properties and uses.
PFA was invented in 1938 by DuPont as a melt processable version of PTFE and is sold under the Teflon brand name. PFA is a co-polymer product of PTFE.
PEEK has been successfully used as a replacement material for bearing cages for many years. In addition to its high performance characteristics it offers weight reduction along with cost savings compared to traditional bearing cage materials such as brass and aluminium.
Used in hostile environments, PEEK is a high strength alternative to ferrous materials. It exhibits very low smoke and toxic gas emissions whilst carrying a V-0 flammability rating.
Cryogenic sealing involving liquid nitrogen can be quite challenging, but certainly not impossible thanks to materials such as PCTFE that offer good thermal stability, good chemical resistance, very good physical properties.
When machining PTFE it’s essential to design your application with PTFE’s inherent properties in mind, it can be difficult to achieve tight machining tolerances. At Fluorocarbon, we utilise our in house compression moulding capabilities to create stock shapes for efficient machining of custom PTFE parts.
Updated 12/02/2026 Fluoropolymers share several unique properties which make them suitable for use in the automotive, aerospace, oil and gas and medical industries. PTFE, PFA and FEP are the most well-known and common fluoroplastics. So what, exactly, are their differences?
Updated 12/02/2026 Two of the most frequently specified materials are PTFE and PEEK. Understanding their differences is critical when specifying components such as seals, valve seats, bearings, insulators or structural parts.
Updated 10/02/2026 The fundamental difference between PTFE and PCTFE lies in their chemical structure. In PCTFE, one fluorine atom in the polymer backbone is replaced with a chlorine atom. This seemingly small change results in significant differences in mechanical strength, thermal performance, processability, and end-use applications.
PTFE is a tough, non-stick, low friction material. Because of its flexibility PTFE can creep and deform under heavy loads but this can be alleviated by adding filler.
PTFE is a tough, non-stick, low-friction material, but due to its flexibility, PTFE can creep and deform under heavy loads. This can be alleviated by adding filler.
Fluoroglide® Slide Bearings are superior to conventional expansion plates, rollers and rocker arms, because they accommodate expansion and contraction, as well as other reciprocating motions of thermal, seismic or differential…
What is PFA coating? PFA – perfluoroalkoxy - is a co-polymer product of PTFE. The key advantage of PFA is its melt processability.
What is PTFE coating? PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), the original fluoropolymer, is a tough yet flexible, material with great electrically insulating properties and excellent resistance to chemicals; it has one of the lowest coefficients of friction of any solid.…
PFA is a co-polymer product of PTFE. The key advantage of PFA is its melt processability due to it's lower melt viscosity than PTFE.
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high temperature thermoplastic that offers a unique combination of exceptional performance characteristics.
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) is a high-performance fluoropolymer known for its exceptional chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and stability in extreme environments.
Updated 10/02/2026 PTFE/Teflon: Properties, Structure, and Performance Explained Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a tough, flexible, non-resilient thermoplastic best known for its exceptional chemical resistance, outstanding thermal stability, and extremely low coefficient of friction.…