Thermoplastic comparison
PTFE (Teflon) vs PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)
Every value below is a typical room-temperature figure with its source, test method and conditions — the same dataset that drives the calculators.
Which to choose
PTFE is the more inert and the slipperier, and it handles higher temperatures, but it is soft, creeps badly under load and cannot be melt-processed conventionally. PVDF is stiffer, stronger, weldable and straightforward to fabricate into pipe and fittings, though strong bases attack it. PTFE for seals and low friction; PVDF for chemical pipework and structural parts.
| Property | PTFE (Teflon) | PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.17 g/cm³ | 1.78 g/cm³ | PTFE (Teflon) — 22% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 0.5 GPa | 2 GPa | PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) — 4.0× higher |
| Tensile strength | 24 MPa | 45 MPa | PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) — 88% higher |
| Melting point Tm | 327 °C | 170 °C | PTFE (Teflon) — 157 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed.
- CAMPUS plastics database — typical grade datasheet values (campusplastics.com)
Typical room-temperature values for learning and preliminary design; grades vary widely and a supplier datasheet always overrides a textbook figure. Confirm against the datasheet before design work.