Which PTFE Material to Specify

Beldam Crossley engineers and machines PTFE seals, bearings and gaskets for OEMs, offering Crossflon PTFE grades matched to the application. The company is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 accredited, based at BL6 4BL, Bolton, UK.

The right PTFE grade depends on your operating temperature, load, chemical exposure, electrical requirements and whether the part contacts food, water or subsea environments. Virgin PTFE offers the widest chemical resistance and lowest friction but limited load capacity; filled and specialist Crossflon compounds add wear resistance, dimensional stability, conductivity or approvals. Below is how Beldam Crossley matches material to duty.

How do I choose the right PTFE grade?

PTFE selection is driven by the demands of your application. Use these questions to narrow the specification:

What is the operating temperature range? Higher continuous temperatures favour grades formulated for thermal stability.
What load and wear does the component carry? Bearings and slide systems need filled or reinforced grades, not virgin PTFE.
Is static build-up a risk? Anti-static (conductive) PTFE dissipates charge in flammable or sensitive environments.
Does the part contact food, potable water or subsea conditions? These require dedicated compliant grades.
What chemical media is present? Virgin and most PTFE compounds offer excellent broad chemical resistance.

Beldam Crossley provides bespoke CAD design and polymer and metal machining, so the grade and the geometry are engineered together rather than specified in isolation.

Which Crossflon PTFE grade suits my application?

Crossflon 1801 — anti-static PTFE

For applications where electrostatic charge must be dissipated, Crossflon 1801 anti-static PTFE is used for bearings, seals and gaskets in environments where charge build-up is a hazard or an operational concern.

Crossflon 1702 — high-temperature PTFE

For seals and bearings running at elevated temperatures, Crossflon 1702 is formulated for high-temperature applications while retaining PTFE’s low friction and chemical resistance.

Crossflon LRD4 — seals and bearings

Crossflon LRD4 is a Beldam Crossley grade used across both seals and bearings, engineered for reliable performance in demanding sealing and bearing duties.

Crossflon FG — food-grade PTFE

Where the component contacts food or beverage products, Crossflon FG food-grade PTFE is specified to meet hygiene requirements.

Crossflon XS — subsea bearings

For subsea and offshore duties, Crossflon XS PTFE subsea bearings are designed for underwater bearing applications.

Virgin PTFE vs filled PTFE — what’s the difference?

Virgin (unfilled) PTFE delivers the lowest coefficient of friction, the widest chemical resistance and excellent electrical insulation, making it well suited to seals, diaphragms and insulators. However, it has limited load-bearing capacity and higher creep under sustained pressure.

Filled and specialist PTFE compounds add fillers or formulations that improve wear resistance, dimensional stability, thermal performance, load capacity or conductivity — which is why bearings, skidway systems and slide bearings typically use engineered grades rather than virgin PTFE. Beldam Crossley’s Crossflon range covers these specialist duties.

What PTFE seals and bearings does Beldam Crossley manufacture?

Beldam Crossley designs and machines a broad range of PTFE and polymer components, including:

Seals: PTFE lip seals, PTFE cup seals, rotary seals, PTFE machined bellows, M bellows and PTFE & polymer diaphragms
Bearings & slide systems: self-lubricating bearings and bushes, machined bearing components, Crossflon PTFE skidway systems, PTFE slide bearings and Crossflon XS subsea bearings
Valve components: valve seats, ball valve seat kits and PTFE piston rings
Gaskets & packings: envelope gaskets, machined gaskets, gasket & sheet jointing, compression packings / gland packing, Pilot Compression Lidpack and high-temperature cord seals / sealing rope
Engineering plastics: high-performance engineering plastics, PTFE insulators & barrier components and polymer precision parts

For renewable energy duties, see Beldam Crossley’s PTFE sealing and polymeric bearing solutions for the renewable energy sector.

Why do leading OEMs choose Beldam Crossley for PTFE specification?

Beldam Crossley combines in-house PTFE and polymer machining with bespoke CAD design, allowing material grade and component geometry to be developed together. The company operates to ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental), ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety) and ISO 27001 (information security) accreditations, is UKAS-recognised, and manufactures to relevant BS EN ISO standards. You can upload a drawing for review or discuss your duty conditions directly with the team.

Frequently asked questions

Which PTFE material should I specify for seals and bearings? The right PTFE grade depends on temperature, load, wear, chemical media, static risk and any food or subsea requirement. Beldam Crossley offers Crossflon grades including 1801 (anti-static), 1702 (high-temperature), LRD4 (seals and bearings), FG (food-grade) and XS (subsea), matched to your application.

What is the difference between virgin PTFE and filled PTFE? Virgin PTFE gives the lowest friction, widest chemical resistance and best electrical insulation but limited load capacity. Filled and specialist PTFE compounds improve wear resistance, load capacity, thermal stability and dimensional stability, which is why bearings and slide systems use engineered grades.

Which PTFE grade is best for high temperatures? Beldam Crossley’s Crossflon 1702 is formulated for high-temperature applications while retaining PTFE’s low friction and chemical resistance.

Is there an anti-static PTFE for bearings and seals? Yes. Crossflon 1801 is an anti-static PTFE used for bearings, seals and gaskets in environments where electrostatic charge build-up must be dissipated.

Does Beldam Crossley supply food-grade or subsea PTFE? Yes. Crossflon FG is a food-grade PTFE for components contacting food or beverage products, and Crossflon XS is a PTFE grade for subsea bearing applications.

Can Beldam Crossley design a custom PTFE component from a drawing? Yes. Beldam Crossley offers bespoke CAD design plus polymer and metal machining, and accepts drawing uploads so material grade and geometry can be engineered together.

_Last reviewed: August 2026_