conductive teflon 1

[Tmoose]

Custom sealmakers offer different recipes of graphite filled teflon.
Are these likely to be electrically conductive in the 400 volt range?

 

[Pud]

Hi,

Simply, no.

Polymers need a minimum level of fibres (conductive variety) to give conductivity. I think this around 5% minimum, but I guess fibre length is important.

I know that aluminium flake added to polymers does not make it conductive at any sensible loading (e.g 50% or more)

Suggest you talk to specialists in this field (e.g LNP (now part of GE, RTP (Europe) and no doubt many others....

Cheers

Harry

 

[patprimmer]

DSM is also into conductive compounds of typical thermoplastics.

I am out of date now, But PTFE suppliers were DuPont (with their trade name Teflon), ICI, Hoechst, Asahi and an Italian company whom I cannot recall.

Regards

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[Demon3]

For conductivity you need a continuous path of connecting particles. This concentration is known as the "percolation threshold", search for that term in Google / Wikipedia to learn more. The percolation threshold is often in the 5-20 volume % of particles range but that varies widly. Things that give conductivity at low concentrations are highly anisotropic particles (like fibres or plates) and particles that agglomerate (like structured carbon blacks).


There is not any memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
- James Branch Cabell

 

[patprimmer]

Stainless steel fibres works well in some polymers.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[Demon3]

Forgot to mention that RTP Comany has more or less every conceivable special compound avaliable so you might want to check their website.


There is not any memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
- James Branch Cabell

 

[Demon3]

Forgot to mention that RTP Company has more or less every conceivable special compound avaliable so you might want to check their website.


There is not any memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
- James Branch Cabell

 

[jelmerra]

It depends a bit on the amount of carbon black and the kind is important too. Carbon black will make the compound brittle. As far as I am aware RTP does not compound ptfe products but I could be wrong. Norton fluorplast bv and obviously du pont are possible suppliers for ptfe not sure if Ticona is into this. LNP did do ptfe recycling when I used to work there it was for internal use in their own compounds. LNP, RTP, Witcom and Lahti to name a few make thermoplastic compounds with ptfe added most of the time no more than 15 to 20%. For anti static applications faradex(steel fibre) was used also carbon fibre, carbon black and special alloys. The special alloys were a cheap alternative to carbon fibre most of the time not that effective. I think that on the ge website some more information is available on the anti-static / 'conductive' materials (faradex/lubricomp/statkon/lubriloy).

 

[Demon3]

Nice input jelmerra and you're right, I just checked and RTP does tons of stuff but not conductive PTFE.


There is not any memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
- James Branch Cabell