As a professional manufacturer and supplier of graphite-filled PTFE sheets, Taifno offers FDA-compliant grades suitable for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The material is non-combustible, resistant to bacterial growth, and features lower friction, superior thermal conductivity, and reduced cold flow.
Key specifications: operating temperature range of -180°C to +200°C, pressure resistance up to 75 bar, tensile strength ≥11 N/mm², and recovery rate ≥35%.
A graphite-filled PTFE sheet is a high-performance gasket material made from virgin PTFE reinforced with graphite filler (typically 15-30% graphite content). The graphite particles provide structural reinforcement that significantly improves the material's mechanical and thermal properties while maintaining PTFE's broad chemical compatibility (pH 0-14).
Key benefits of graphite reinforcement:
Reduced coefficient of friction: graphite lowers the friction coefficient, improving sliding performance in bearings and seals
Improved thermal conductivity: graphite enhances heat dissipation, reducing hot spots and shaft wear in service
Reduced cold flow: graphite filler minimizes creep relaxation (35% creep relaxation vs higher for virgin PTFE)
Excellent bolt torque retention: maintains seal over time, fewer re-torquing requirements
Good recovery: recovery ≥35% maintains seal integrity
FDA compliant: meets FDA specifications for food and pharmaceutical applications (select grades)
Will not support flame: fire safe
Will not support bacterial growth: suitable for clean processes
|
Problem |
How Graphite-Filled PTFE Solves It |
The Cost of Choosing Wrong |
|
PTFE creeps and leaks under load |
Graphite filler reduces cold flow (35% creep relaxation) — maintains bolt torque longer |
Frequent re-torquing, gasket replacement every 6-12 months |
|
Friction builds up in bearings |
Graphite lowers friction coefficient — smooth sliding, less wear |
Shaft wear, equipment damage, premature failure |
|
Heat damages gaskets and shafts |
Graphite improves thermal conductivity — dissipates heat, runs cooler |
Hot spots, shaft scoring, gasket degradation |
|
PTFE lacks mechanical strength |
Graphite improves compressive strength — holds shape under load |
Gasket extrusion, deformation under pressure |
|
Food/pharma contamination risk |
FDA-compliant grades available — pure material, no extractables |
Product contamination, FDA fines, batch loss |
|
Feature |
Graphite-Filled PTFE |
Virgin PTFE |
Carbon Fiber PTFE |
Glass Fiber PTFE |
|
Color |
Black / Dark gray |
White |
Black |
Off-white / Gray |
|
Friction Coefficient |
★★★★★ lowest |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Thermal Conductivity |
★★★★★ excellent |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★★★★ excellent |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Creep Resistance |
★★★★☆ 35% |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★★★★ |
★★★★☆ |
|
Wear Resistance |
★★★★☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★★★★ best |
★★★★★ best |
|
Mechanical Strength |
★★★★☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
|
Chemical Resistance |
★★★★☆ not for oxidizers |
★★★★★ |
★★★★☆ not for oxidizers |
★★★★☆ not for HF/alkali |
|
FDA Compliant |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes |
❌ No |
✅ Yes |
|
Best For |
Low friction, bearings, heat dissipation, dynamic seals |
General chemical |
High speed, high load, heat dissipation |
Abrasive media, high pressure |
|
If Your Service Is... |
Choose... |
Why |
|
Bearings, bushings, sliding applications |
Graphite-Filled PTFE |
Lowest friction + thermal conductivity |
|
High-speed dynamic sealing |
Graphite-Filled PTFE |
Heat dissipation + low friction |
|
High temperature, high load, high speed |
Carbon Fiber PTFE |
Best thermal conductivity + mechanical strength |
|
Abrasive media, high pressure, high wear |
Glass Fiber PTFE |
Best wear resistance + mechanical strength |
|
Strong oxidizers (nitric acid, chlorine) |
Virgin PTFE |
Graphite/carbon oxidize — virgin PTFE required |
|
Clean chemicals, general sealing |
Virgin PTFE |
Lowest cost, universal chemical resistance |
|
Industry |
Application |
Why Graphite |
|
Chemical Processing |
Flanges, pumps, valves — acids, solvents, chemicals |
Chemical resistance + reduced creep + low friction |
|
Power Generation |
Steam systems, high temperature flanges, turbine seals |
Thermal conductivity, heat dissipation |
|
Pharmaceutical |
Sterile processing equipment — FDA compliance |
FDA compliant, non-contaminating |
|
Food & Beverage |
Sanitary connections — FDA compliance |
FDA compliant, bacteria resistant |
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Bearings & Bushings |
Mechanical parts, sliding applications, thrust washers |
Lowest friction, thermal conductivity, low wear |
|
Pulp & Paper |
Digesters, pumps — moderate chemicals |
Chemical resistance + creep resistance |
|
Oil & Gas |
Refinery flanges, pipelines — hydrocarbons |
Chemical compatibility + thermal stability |
|
Parameter |
Value |
Notes |
|
Temperature Range |
-196°C to +200°C |
Continuous service |
|
Max Pressure |
Up to 75 bar |
Depends on thickness and design |
|
Density |
2.1 – 2.3 g/cm³ |
— |
|
Tensile Strength |
≥11 N/mm² |
— |
|
Compressibility |
7-19% |
ASTM F36 |
|
Recovery |
≥35% |
ASTM F36 |
|
Creep Relaxation |
≤35% |
ASTM F38 — significantly better than virgin PTFE |
|
Color |
Black / Dark gray |
— |
|
Material |
PTFE + graphite filler (15-30%) |
— |
|
FDA Compliant |
Yes (select grades) |
FDA-compliant formulations available |
|
Flame Resistance |
Will not support flame |
— |
|
Bacterial Growth |
Will not support |
— |
|
Grade |
Graphite Content |
Best For |
|
Graphite 15% |
15% graphite |
Moderate improvement in properties while maintaining flexibility |
|
Graphite 30% |
30% graphite |
Maximum thermal conductivity, compressive strength, and creep resistance |
|
Graphite + Glass Fiber |
20% glass + 5% graphite |
Balanced properties — strength + low friction |
|
FDA Grade |
Graphite filled |
Food and pharmaceutical applications |
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Size (mm) |
Thickness Range (mm) |
Notes |
|
1000 × 1000 |
4 — 50 |
Molded sheet |
|
1220 × 1220 |
4 — 50 |
Molded sheet |
|
1500 × 1500 |
4 — 50 |
Molded sheet |
|
2000 × 2000 |
4 — 50 |
Molded sheet |
100% Virgin PTFE Resin — consistent quality, batch after batch
Graphite Reinforcement — uniform dispersion for consistent performance
FDA-Compliant Grades Available — suitable for food and pharmaceutical applications
Will Not Support Flame — fire safe
Will Not Support Bacterial Growth — suitable for clean processes
Full Traceability — material certificates on request
Lead Time — standard sizes in stock (24-48 hours); custom sizes 7-10 day
A: A graphite-filled PTFE sheet (also known as a graphite-modified PTFE sheet or black PTFE gasket) is PTFE reinforced with graphite filler (typically 15-30%). It offers improved thermal conductivity, lower friction, and reduced creep (35% creep relaxation) compared to virgin PTFE.
Use it in applications requiring good heat dissipation, low friction, and chemical resistance, bearings, bushings, sliding applications, chemical processing flanges, and power generation equipment. Available in FDA-compliant grades for food and pharmaceutical applications.
When NOT to use it: Strong oxidizers at high temperature (nitric acid, chlorine, etc.) — graphite can oxidize. Use virgin PTFE for these services.
A: Both are black, both improve thermal conductivity, but they serve different applications. Graphite-filled PTFE offers the lowest coefficient of friction and best sliding performance, ideal for bearings, bushings, and dynamic seals where friction reduction is critical.
Carbon fiber-filled PTFE offers higher mechanical strength and better wear resistance, ideal for high-speed, high-load, high-temperature applications where both strength and heat dissipation are required.
Quick rule:
Need low friction + good heat dissipation → Graphite.
Need high strength + high speed + high load → Carbon fiber.
For FDA applications, graphite-filled is available; carbon fiber is not FDA compliant.
A: Temperature: -180°C to +200°C continuous service.
Pressure: Up to 75 bar — depends on thickness and design.
Chemical: pH 0-14 — NOT compatible with strong oxidizers at high temperature (nitric acid, chlorine, etc.) — graphite oxidizes.
Three common mistakes:
Using in strong oxidizers: graphite oxidizes at high temperature in nitric acid, chlorine, and strong oxidizing environments, use virgin PTFE or glass-filled PTFE instead
Expecting the same chemical resistance as virgin PTFE: while PTFE offers pH 0-14 resistance, the graphite filler has chemical limits, verify compatibility before use
Over-tightening: Graphite-filled PTFE requires controlled torque; excessive compression can damage the gasket
Need help selecting the right grade? Contact us with your temperature, pressure, and media, we recommend the right PTFE grade within 24 hours.
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No.1028, Qiersan Street, Andong Town, Cixi City, Zhejiang Province, China
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