The manufacture of PVC windows typically involves a welding operation in the corners of a frame or sash to join the pieces together. These welds are achieved by heating the profile corners to fuse the plastic and create the weld. PTFE coated materials insulate the PVC during the heating process to prevent overheating and sticking to the bare metal heating platen.
If the PVC profile was brought into contact with the bare metal of the heating platen, it would certainly melt but it would also adhere or stick to the plate and then build up until heat transfer was interrupted resulting in poor or no welds and a mess.
The PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, most common brand name is Teflon®) coated fabric or tape solves this problem by putting a non-stick surface between the bare metal and the PVC profile.
The PTFE coated fabric is produced by applying multiple layers of PTFE coating to a fiberglass fabric. These multi-layer coatings provide good abrasion resistance, non-stick properties, and yet allow effective heat transfer from the metal platen to the plastic profile. A silicone adhesive can be applied to one side to create a “peel and stick” product for platens that have no clamps or clips to hold the fabric in place. Other welder platens do have clips or clamps that preclude the need and extra expense for the silicone adhesive.
Window manufacturers often resort to using scissors or paper cutters to cut the PTFE to size to match the metal platen dimensions. This is time consuming and results in excessive waste.
TBI can cut any of the PTFE fabrics or tapes to shape quickly and accurately using our flat-bed die cutting presses. These part scan be simple rectangles, squares, or any intricate shape. We custom package them in any quantity specified per box. It saves shelf space and makes inventory counts go much faster.
| 100 Series PTFE Coated Glass Tapes | ||||||
| Nominal Thickness | Peel Adhesion to Steel | Operating Temperature | ||||
| mils | mm | oz/in | N/cm | ˚F | ˚C | |
| 100-5S | 5 | 0.13 | 55 | 6 | -100 – +500 | -73 – +250 |
| 100-6S | 6 | 0.15 | 40 | 4.4 | -100 – +501 | -73 – +251 |
| DXL Reinforced PTFE Coating Glass Tapes | ||||||
| Nominal Thickness | Peel Adhesion to Steel | Operating Temperature | ||||
| mils | mm | oz/in | N/cm | ˚F | ˚C | |
| DXL-5S | 5 | 0.13 | 40 | 4.4 | -100 – +500 | -73 – +250 |
| DXL-6S | 6 | 0.15 | 40 | 4.4 | -100 – +501 | -73 – +251 |
| 100 Series PTFE Coated Glass Tapes | ||
| Nominal Thickness | ||
| mils | mm | |
| 100-5S | 5 | 0.13 |
| 100-6S | 6 | 0.15 |
| Peel Adhesion to Steel | ||
| oz/in | N/cm | |
| 100-5S | 55 | 6 |
| 100-6S | 40 | 4.4 |
| Operating Temperature | ||
| ˚F | ˚C | |
| 100-5S | -100 – +500 | -73 – +250 |
| 100-6S | -100 – +501 | -73 – +251 |
| DXL Reinforced PTFE Coating Glass Tapes | ||
| Nominal Thickness | ||
| mils | mm | |
| DXL-5S | 5 | 0.13 |
| DXL-6S | 6 | 0.15 |
| Peel Adhesion to Steel | ||
| oz/in | N/cm | |
| DXL-5S | 40 | 4.4 |
| DXL-6S | 40 | 4.4 |
| Operating Temperature | ||
| ˚F | ˚C | |
| DXL-5S | -100 – +500 | -73 – +250 |
| DXL-6S | -100 – +501 | -73 – +251 |
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