Industry requires advancement and innovation to sustain growth and prevent deterioration. This means that industry strives constantly to solve a steady supply of problems.
Which is great, if you happen to be a problem solver. The many tools available today give modern engineers and contractors an ample pool of materials to wield. It’s said if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail.
If you have Teflon coated fasteners, these problems stop turning into maintenance hassles down the road. Teflon, the brand name of the chemical compound polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), enhances many construction materials.
Read on to learn the exact benefits this marvelous material brings to your world.
Teflon Coated Problem Solvers
The majority of the benefits of Teflon coatings to bolts and nuts comes from the incredible properties of the polymer. Some of these benefits compound and others seem almost tangential.
Taking the benefits a step further, our line of color-coded Teflon products makes any job easier. No need to scrutinize each bolt in a group for size and end up with a something a millimeter off when on the job.
Friction Coefficient
While a low friction coefficient might sound like a problem when it comes to a fastener, it changes nothing of the strength of a joint. The material doesn’t make a bolt or stud slip out of the area of insertion.
The low-friction material makes putting in or pulling out an old bolt far easier. The lack of friction creates less heat which means less expansion. The bolt stays the same size and shape instead of subtly warping, which causes problems with affixing.
While low, the friction coefficient of PTFE is not the lowest of known materials. However, it is stronger and more resistant to tears and incidental removal.
Lower friction also translates to less force and power needed to complete an attachment. Less work reduces the risk of over-torquing, saving equipment from damage and workers from injury.
Accumulation
Given the low-friction of Teflon, dirt and grime find it difficult to cling to. This provides a benefit in keeping debris and accumulation from infiltrating.
This lowers incidents of material cross-contamination. Particles from transportation and storage won’t get into the worksite and vice versa.
The lack of grime leads to less material infiltrating attachment points and causing mechanical wear on both bolts and points.
Lack of tackiness in the fasteners also serves to reduce tearing of the coating itself. Large debris or metals havings in an insertion point could cause an issue but less than they would on a naked metal against metal connection.
An often underappreciated type of accumulation comes from biological organisms. Molds and mildews grow into attachment spaces, especially in freshwater environments. Teflon coated fasteners restrict biological growth, leaving structures mold-free.
Weathering Resistance
The tight molecular bond of carbon-fluorine creates an almost trampoline-like surface. Not only does this restrict dirt and larger particles from sticking, but it gives Teflon its best-known quality, water beading.
Without the ability of water to stick to the surface of Teflon coated bolts, weathering effects are drastically reduced.
Precise manufacturing of bolts, from size to evenness of coating, ensures a long-lasting bolt. You’ve probably seen what happens when bad bolts, devoid of weather protection, get used on a large scale project.
Weathering resistance doesn’t stop at water. Sunlight does its own share of damage to structures. Teflon stands up to ultraviolet, restricting discoloration over time. Resistance to embrittlement from leeching is also bolstered.
Temperature Variability
Teflon breaks down at temperatures beyond 500 degrees Fahrenheit. From that temperature and up the carbon-fluorine bonds break down. When this happens fluorine gas coasts into the atmosphere.
These temps are well beyond what you see in a project or from daily use.
Freezing temperatures don’t cause the coating to crack or open up, making them useful for colder climates. The lack of ability for water to stick also means they resit icing and crystal build-up.
Even when beyond its functional temperature, PTFE doesn’t hit an auto-ignition temperature. The substance melts and separates long before the involatile fluorine combusts.
Corrosion Resistance
The tight bond of carbon-fluorine doesn’t just keep out water, many other soluble chemicals fail to find purchase on PTFE coated bolts.
Projects that need frequent cleaning with harsh and stringent chemicals, get a boost. Teflon coatings resist breaking down in such conditions. You can get more info about cleaning services from here!
Chemical corrosion isn’t impossible. The right application of heat and certain stabilizers added in close proximity could open up the material.
None of which can happen naturally or through the course of maintenance and wear in even chemical processing facilities.
Corrosion comes right after weathering in creating disaster in large-scale projects. Weathering is a form of natural chemical corrosion, after all. Nobody sets out to create a bridge that collapses after years of structural bolts melting way.
Conductive Properties
Since Teflon is a polymerized substance, it has several qualities in common with rubber. Most importantly, its high electrical resistance.
Teflon coated materials resist shock and provide excellent dielectric strength.
By resisting electrical charges, these materials diffuse charges. This creates a safety net for materials and people alike.
Functional Enhancements
A final tangential use for Teflon coated bolts and fasteners is to directly reduce friction in a machine. Lower friction throughout a machine means less cleaning and fewer lubricants needed. For dry lubrication and static sensitive devices, this is essential.
For machines that are prone to jamming Teflon coating means more uptime. Examples include paper cutters or industrial metal printers and fabricators.
Smooth Crafting
As you see, the primary benefits of Teflon coated fasteners affect the bottom line of any industrial project. Maintenance costs factor heavily into any structure meant to stand for years at a time. The upfront cost of Teflon enhanced products quickly pay for themselves with ease of maintenance and upkeep.
Looking for specific combinations of color and sizes to fill your jobs? Contact us for a full rundown of our offerings.