Technical Capabilities

As the company that invented expanded PTFE and introduced it in the marketplace, Gore offers an unparalleled level of technical knowledge and experience.

This know-how starts with a deep scientific understanding of fluoropolymers, particularly PTFE processing and fluoropolymer development. From that core technical base, Gore’s expertise extends across a variety of applications. Gore’s unique technical agility enables the development of a wide range of processes and creative, reliable technologies.

Performance Characteristics of Expanded PTFE

Gore’s configuration engineering of expanded PTFE and other materials can result in products that offer any number of these performance characteristics:

• Electrical conductivity
• Thermally conductivity
• Catalytic activity
• Chemical activity
• Absorption
• Magnetic activity
• Antibacterial functionality
• Odor absorbency
• Radiation resistance
• Reflectivity
• Selective permeability
• Transparency/opacity
• Dimensional stability
• High dielectric constant
• Low dielectric constant
• Varied hardness and stiffness
• Low/high surface energy
• Low/high abrasion resistance
• Non-permeable barrier properties
• Controlled fluid delivery

Expanded PTFE Attributes

Versatile expanded PTFE can be configured to possess any number of these attributes:

• High porosity
• Low porosity
• Thin
• Wide
• Continuous length
• Clean (no outgassing)
• Non-particulating
• High temperature use
• Low temperature use
• Easily handled form
• Biocompatible
• High surface area
• Chemically inert
• Low coefficient of friction
• High additive loading capacity
• UV resistance
• Non-combustibility
• Sound transmission

Expanded PTFE Configuration Capabilities

Expanded PTFE is Gore’s core technology, a technology that Gore produces:

in multiple forms: tapes, membranes/films, tubes, fibers, sheets and rods,

with varied structures: high or low density, tight or open porosity, thin or thick, surface or cross-section orientation, multiple geometries and asymmetries

and various proprietary modifications that enable us to produce highly valuable end products.

Examples of forms:

Tapes: electronic wires and cables

Membranes/films: GORE-TEX® laminates, filtration laminates, stent grafts, vents, fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies, dielectric materials, battery/capacitor separators

Sheets: electromagnetic interference gaskets, sealing gaskets, medical patches

Fibers: weaving/sewing threads, dental floss, packings, filtration felts

Tubes: peristaltic pump tubes, vascular grafts, environmental screening modules