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PTFE Film: Powder Rolled Thin, a Minute at 400 °C, Quenched (Brubaker & Hanford 1946)
Fed between two smooth rolls set 1–2 thousandths of an inch apart, PTFE powder comes out as a fragile film. One minute in a furnace at 400 °C and a dip in cold water turn it into a tough, flexible film. Rolling it again cold makes it stronger and clearer.
Source: M. M. Brubaker and W. E. Hanford (du Pont), US 2,400,099 (1946), Example III. The furnace and quench bucket are ours. Picture drawn by Youblob.
Advanced
1 day
Instructions
1
1
Set the rolls 1–2 mils apart
Set the rolls 1–2 mils apart
Set a pair of smooth calender rolls to a gap of about 1 to 2 mils (0.001–0.002 in).
Tools needed:
Calender Rolls
Micrometer2
2
Roll the powder into film
Roll the powder into film
Feed powdered PTFE between the rolls. The film that comes out is fragile: handle it gently.
Materials for this step:
PTFE Resin Powder1 as requiredTools needed:
Calender Rolls3
3
One minute at 400 °C
One minute at 400 °C
Pass the film through a furnace at 400 °C so that each part stays in the heat for about 1 minute.
Tools needed:
Muffle Furnace
Thermocouple with Readout
Tongs4
4
Quench in cold water
Quench in cold water
Quench it straight into cold water. The film is now tough, flexible and even.
Tools needed:
Quench Bucket5
5
Cold-roll it (optional)
Cold-roll it (optional)
Rolling the film again cold makes it stronger and clearer. The patent gives no gap for this pass.
Tools needed:
Calender RollsMicrometerMaterials
1- 1 as requiredPlaceholder
Tools Required
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