PTFE Tape

PTFE Tape


PTFE Tape stands for polytetrafluoroethylene. Just thought you should know.

PTFE Tape is used when connecting threaded pipe. The tape serves two purposes. First, it serves as a lubricant and allows the user to tighten the pipe and fittings a little tighter. Second, if there are any imperfections in the threads of the pipe and fittings (which would allow leaks), the PTFE Tape will plug these imperfections and stop the leaks.

PTFE Tape is one option to connect threaded pipe. The other option is to use a pipe joint compound. Many people prefer PTFE Tape because it is less expensive, not messy to work with and it gives you 100% coverage of the threads. Sometimes by using pipe joint compounds you do not get 100% coverage over the threads.

Judging quality on PTFE Tape is difficult. The standard in the United States that most companies mention is MIL-27730A. This is an old military specification that requires a minimum thickness of 3.5 mils and a minimum purity of 99% . But, a PTFE Tape that meets the above specification can still be a poor quality tape.

The other quality consideration is the density of the tape. You can have a tape that is 3.5 mils thick, but it could be filled with "air" and not much PTFE. This is where density comes into play. The PTFE tapes in the market seem to range from .37 g/cc (.37 grams per cubic centimeter) up to 1.6 g/cc. This is a big difference. In one PTFE Tape there is over four times the amount of PTFE than in the other tape. This represents a big quality difference. The more PTFE present, the beter chance you have to make a good seal.

The standard color of PTFE Tape is white. Over the years other colors have been introduced into the market for special purposes. Yellow tape is for gas lines, pink tape is for water lines, green tape is for oxygen lines and gray tape is for stainless steel lines. It is Black Swan's opinioin that this more of a marketing stategy than anything else.

Most of the PTFE Tape sold today is imported tape. There are a few domestic manufacturers remaining in the United States. They produce high quality tape at very high prices. The imported tape can be very good quality tape at very competitive prices. And, price is very important.

Black Swan is a major distributor of PTFE Tape. We offer tape from the U.S. ,Malaysia and China. We offer tape that is classified as low density and high density. We also offer all of the different colors.

The next time you have any questions on PTFE Tape or if you need to make a large purchase of PTFE Tape, please give Black Swan a call.


Jeffrey Lichten
President

Black Swan Mfg. Co.
4540 W. Thomas Street
Chicago, IL 60651

Tel: 800-252-5796
Fax:773-227-3705
E-Mail info@blackswanmfg.com