PTFE vs UHMW: Choosing the Right Low-Friction Plastic

PTFE and UHMW are the two most frequently specified plastics for sliding surfaces, wear components, and low-friction applications. Both materials excel at reducing friction—but they solve different problems, perform differently under stress, and occupy very different price points.

This guide cuts through the confusion with a direct comparison to help you select the right material for your application.

The 30-Second Answer

Choose UHMW when: Cost matters, impact resistance is needed, or temperatures stay below 180°F.

Choose PTFE when: Chemical exposure is severe, temperatures exceed 200°F, or you need the absolute lowest friction coefficient.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Property	UHMW	PTFE
Coefficient of Friction	0.10 - 0.20	0.04 - 0.10
Max Service Temperature	180°F (82°C)	500°F (260°C)
Impact Strength	Excellent	Poor
Abrasion Resistance	Excellent	Moderate
Chemical Resistance	Good	Exceptional
FDA Compliant Grades	Yes	Yes
Relative Cost	$	$$$$

Friction: PTFE Wins, But Not By As Much As You Think

PTFE holds the record for the lowest coefficient of friction of any solid material—as low as 0.04 against polished steel. This is why it’s the default choice for applications where friction reduction is the primary concern.

However, UHMW’s friction coefficient of 0.10-0.20 is still remarkably low compared to most engineering materials. For many applications—conveyor guides, wear strips, dock bumpers—this difference is negligible in practice. The question becomes whether the marginal friction reduction is worth paying four to five times more for material.

PTFE’s lower friction matters most in high-speed sliding surfaces exceeding 100 feet per minute, precision linear motion systems where stick-slip must be eliminated, and seals and gaskets operating under pressure. For conveyor components, chute liners, wear strips, guides, and general material handling equipment, UHMW’s friction properties are entirely sufficient.

Temperature: PTFE’s Clear Advantage

This is where the materials diverge dramatically, and there’s no room for compromise.

UHMW begins to soften around 180°F and loses structural integrity above 200°F. It simply cannot be used in steam environments, near heat sources, or in applications where significant frictional heating occurs. If your operating temperature might exceed 180°F even occasionally, UHMW is not an option.

PTFE maintains its properties up to 500°F continuous service. Rather than melting, it decomposes at 620°F. This thermal stability makes PTFE the only viable choice for steam valve components, heat exchanger parts, hot chemical processing equipment, oven conveyor components, and exhaust system parts.

One critical consideration that’s often overlooked: if your application involves steam cleaning or CIP (clean-in-place) procedures that exceed 180°F, UHMW will fail even if normal operating temperatures are lower.

Chemical Resistance: PTFE Is Nearly Inert

PTFE resists virtually every chemical known to industry. The only substances that attack it are molten alkali metals and fluorine gas at elevated temperatures—conditions rarely encountered outside specialized laboratory settings. This near-universal resistance makes PTFE the default choice for aggressive chemical environments.

UHMW offers good chemical resistance for many applications but has notable vulnerabilities that limit its use.

Chemical Class	UHMW	PTFE
Dilute acids	Good	Excellent
Concentrated acids	Limited	Excellent
Oxidizing agents	Poor	Excellent
Hydrocarbons	Good	Excellent
Chlorinated solvents	Limited	Excellent
Ketones & Esters	Good	Excellent

For semiconductor manufacturing, aggressive chemical processing, pharmaceutical production, and any application involving oxidizing chemicals, PTFE is the appropriate choice. UHMW works well for food processing, water treatment, mild chemical exposure, and most material handling applications where the chemical environment is less demanding.

Mechanical Properties: UHMW’s Strength

Here’s where UHMW fights back against its more expensive competitor. Despite its lower price, UHMW outperforms PTFE in several important mechanical categories.

Impact resistance stands out as UHMW’s greatest advantage. It’s one of the toughest plastics available, absorbing impacts that would shatter or permanently deform PTFE. For dock bumpers, dump truck liners, and any application involving impact loading, UHMW is clearly superior.

Abrasion resistance tells a similar story. UHMW outlasts PTFE by five to ten times in abrasive wear applications. Sand, aggregate, grain, and other abrasive materials wear through PTFE relatively quickly, making UHMW the better choice when abrasion is the primary wear mechanism.

Under sustained loads, PTFE exhibits significant cold flow (creep), deforming permanently over time. UHMW handles sustained loads more effectively, though neither material matches metals for structural applications where dimensional stability under load is critical.

From a manufacturing standpoint, both materials machine easily, but PTFE’s tendency to deform under tool pressure requires more careful technique. UHMW machines more forgivingly and tolerates less precise setups.

Cost Reality Check

PTFE typically costs four to five times more than UHMW per pound. For small precision components, this difference might be acceptable. For large components like conveyor guides, chute liners, and wear plates, the cost difference becomes substantial.

Consider a 48” x 96” x 0.5” sheet: UHMW runs approximately $150-200, while PTFE costs $700-900 for the same size. Before specifying PTFE, ask yourself what specific property requires PTFE that UHMW cannot provide. If the answer is temperature resistance or chemical compatibility with aggressive substances, PTFE is justified. If the answer is simply “low friction,” UHMW almost certainly meets the requirement at a fraction of the cost.

Decision Framework

Work through these questions in order to reach the right material choice:

Temperature first: Will the operating temperature ever exceed 180°F? If yes, PTFE is your only option—UHMW cannot be considered. If no, continue evaluating.

Chemical exposure second: Is the application exposed to oxidizing chemicals, concentrated acids, or chlorinated solvents? If yes, specify PTFE for its exceptional chemical resistance. If the chemical environment is mild, continue evaluating.

Mechanical demands third: Does the application involve impact loading or highly abrasive materials? If yes, UHMW’s superior impact and abrasion resistance makes it the better choice. If mechanical demands are moderate, continue evaluating.

Friction requirements last: Is the absolute lowest possible friction coefficient critical to function? If yes, PTFE’s record-low friction justifies its cost. If adequate friction properties suffice, UHMW delivers the performance you need at lower cost.

Common Applications by Material

UHMW dominates in conveyor guides and wear strips, dock bumpers and fenders, dump truck and hopper liners, star wheels and packaging machinery, food processing equipment including cutting boards and guides, and marine bearings and bushings.

PTFE finds its home in valve seats and seals, gaskets for chemical service, semiconductor wafer handling, pharmaceutical processing equipment, non-stick surfaces and liners, high-temperature bearings, and electrical insulation applications.

Modified Grades

Both materials are available in modified grades that address their inherent limitations.

UHMW modifications include UV-stabilized grades for outdoor use, anti-static formulations for ESD-sensitive applications, detectable grades containing metal particles for food processing safety, and oil-filled versions for enhanced lubricity.

PTFE modifications include glass-filled grades for improved wear resistance and reduced creep, carbon-filled formulations for enhanced wear resistance and thermal conductivity, bronze-filled versions for better thermal conductivity and load capacity, and PEEK-blended grades for improved mechanical properties.

Working With NextGen Components

We stock both UHMW and PTFE in sheet, rod, and tube forms across multiple grades. Our materials database includes detailed specifications for UHMW, PTFE, and their modified variants.

Not sure which material fits your application? Contact our engineering team with your operating conditions, and we’ll recommend the optimal material—even if it’s neither of these.