ePTFE FILTER-LAM

Grade

also Gore-Tex

Choose for surface-filtration baghouse and HEPA/ULPA media: the ePTFE layer gives >99.99% capture and easy dust release, backing carries the mechanical load.

High cost $$$$

Request a quote in ePTFE FILTER-LAM ePTFE overview

Values for the FILTER-LAM condition

Other ePTFE grades and fills

ePTFE is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at ePTFE.

Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide

Grade · open for datasheet	Best for	Yield MPa	Tensile MPa	Elong. %	Hardness
CB-COND Carbon-filled / antistatic expanded PTFE	Carbon-black or carbon-fiber loaded ePTFE for static dissipation in solvent/fuel service and for fuel-cell gas-diffusion or electrode substrates.	5	10	80	50 Shore D
JOINT-SEALANT uniaxially expanded ePTFE cord / tape form-in-place sealant	Pick for large, warped, glass-lined or FRP flanges and manway covers where a cut gasket cannot conform — the cord is laid in place and crushed to shape.	6	25	120	42 Shore D
FILLED-MIN mineral-filled (barium sulfate / silica) expanded PTFE sheet	Use where cold flow / creep relaxation of pure ePTFE is unacceptable: mineral filler raises density and stress-retention at the cost of some conformability.	—	12	100	50 Shore D
FILTER-LAMThis page ePTFE membrane laminated to PET/PPS/glass scrim (filter media)	Choose for surface-filtration baghouse and HEPA/ULPA media: the ePTFE layer gives >99.99% capture and easy dust release, backing carries the mechanical load.	12	30	60	—
MEMBRANE microporous ePTFE membrane / breathable film (Gore-Tex type)	Choose for waterproof-breathable laminates, vents, sterile barrier and 0.02–5 µm liquid/gas microfiltration; very thin (5–100 µm) with strong machine-direction orientation.	—	40	120	—

What is ePTFE FILTER-LAM?

ePTFE FILTER-LAM is ePTFE in the FILTER-LAM grade — choose for surface-filtration baghouse and HEPA/ULPA media: the ePTFE layer gives >99.99% capture and easy dust release, backing carries the mechanical load. ePTFE FILTER-LAM has a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi), weaker than 62% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 0.5 GPa (0.0725 Msi). ePTFE FILTER-LAM has a density of 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 126°C (259 °F).

Advantages

Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 97% of polymer grades
Good UV / weathering resistance — 92/100, better than 93% of polymer grades
High service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), better than 87% of polymer grades
Lightweight — 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), better than 84% of polymer grades
Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 75% of polymer grades

Limitations

Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades
High embodied carbon — 13 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 93% of polymer grades
Poor heat conductor — 0.06 W/m·K (0.0347 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades

ePTFE FILTER-LAM properties

Typical room-temperature values for ePTFE FILTER-LAM; 16 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are ePTFE reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.

Physical4

ePTFE FILTER-LAM has a density of 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 126°C (259 °F).

Density0.5 g/cm³0.02 lb/in³

Melting Temperature (Tm)327°C621 °F

Glass Transition (Tg)126°C259 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)0.01%

Mechanical7

ePTFE FILTER-LAM has a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi), weaker than 62% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 0.5 GPa (0.0725 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus0.5 GPa0.07 Msi

Poisson's Ratio0.4

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)30 MPa4.4 ksi

Elongation at Break60%

Compressive Strength10 MPa1.5 ksi

Hardness, Shore D35 Shore D

Compression Set (22 h, 70 °C)50%

Thermal8

ePTFE FILTER-LAM is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 0.06 W/m·K (0.0347 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 110 µm/m·K (61.1 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity0.06 W/m·K0.03 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity1,000 J/kg·K0.24 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)110 µm/m·K61.1 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)200°C392 °F

Min Service Temperature-240°C-400 °F

Flammability (UL 94)V-0 (inherently non-burning fluoropolymer; thin low-density membranes tested as V-0)

Limiting Oxygen Index35%

Max Service Temperature (short-term)300°C572 °F

Electrical6

ePTFE FILTER-LAM is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 20 kV/mm (508 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity1×10¹⁴ Ω·m3.94×10²¹ µΩ·in

Dielectric Strength20 kV/mm508 V/mil

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)1.5

Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)2×10⁻⁴

Volume Resistivity1×10¹⁸ Ω·cm

Surface Resistivity1×10¹⁷ Ω

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 65% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.

Corrosion ResistanceExcellent85/100

UV / Weathering ResistanceExcellent92/100

Chemical Resistance SummaryEssentially inert to acids, alkalis, solvents, oxidizers, steam and fuels over the whole 0–14 pH range; attacked only by molten alkali metals, fluorine/interhalogen compounds at elevated temperature. Porous structure means aggressive media can migrate through the thickness, so wetting agents, surfactants and high-pressure liquids can defeat the hydrophobic barrier.

Sustainability3

Producing a kilogram of ePTFE FILTER-LAM takes about 250 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — more than 92% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)250 MJ/kg107,481 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)13 kg CO₂/kg

Typical Recycled Content0%

Manufacturability4

ePTFE FILTER-LAM's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability very good (80/100).

MachinabilityPoor25/100

WeldabilityPoor30/100

Formability (cold)Very good80/100

Processing Melt Temperature (typ.)370°C698 °F

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with ePTFE FILTER-LAM

Is ePTFE easy to machine?

Do not turn or mill porous sheet — die-cut, water-jet, slit or ultrasonically cut; use sharp steel-rule dies and back the material to avoid crushing and edge densification.

Can ePTFE be welded?

Not melt-weldable in the usual sense; joints are made by lap-and-sinter above 340 °C, PFA/FEP film bonding, adhesive-backed overlaps or skiving-and-clamping.

Can ePTFE be formed, bent or molded?

Made by paste extrusion/calendering of fine-powder PTFE plus lubricant, lubricant removal, then uniaxial or biaxial stretching at 200–330 °C and optional amorphous locking (sinter) above 340 °C; final parts are cut or laminated rather than molded.

What surface finishes work on ePTFE?

No paint or plating adheres without corona/plasma or sodium-etch pretreatment; typical finishing is adhesive backing (PSA strip), PFA edge sealing, scrim lamination, or hydrophobic/oleophobic surface treatment for vents.

ePTFE chemical composition (wt %)

Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.

Element	Spec limit (wt %)	Nominal
processing lubricant (isoparaffin naphth16–25% added for paste extrusion, volatilized before/during expansion	0 – 0.1	0
barium sulfate / silica filleronly in filled (FILLED-MIN) gasket grades	0 – 40	0
carbon black / carbon fiberonly in conductive/antistatic grades	0 – 20	0
PTFE (tetrafluoroethylene homopolymer)fine-powder (paste-extrusion) PTFE resin per ASTM D4895; ePTFE contains no plasticizer after lubricant removal	≥ 95 (balance)	—

ePTFE FILTER-LAM — frequently asked

What is ePTFE FILTER-LAM used for?

ePTFE FILTER-LAM is typically used for gasketing sheet/tape for flanges, membrane filters and vents, vascular grafts and medical implants and sealant cord for irregular flanges. In short: most conformable PTFE gasket; lowest-density PTFE form; cut, not machined.

What is the tensile strength of ePTFE FILTER-LAM?

ePTFE FILTER-LAM has a typical tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 62% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.

Is ePTFE FILTER-LAM easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades). Do not turn or mill porous sheet — die-cut, water-jet, slit or ultrasonically cut; use sharp steel-rule dies and back the material to avoid crushing and edge densification.

Can ePTFE FILTER-LAM be welded?

Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Not melt-weldable in the usual sense; joints are made by lap-and-sinter above 340 °C, PFA/FEP film bonding, adhesive-backed overlaps or skiving-and-clamping.

What surface finishes work on ePTFE FILTER-LAM?

Can ePTFE FILTER-LAM be formed, bent or molded?

What is the maximum service temperature of ePTFE FILTER-LAM?

ePTFE FILTER-LAM is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F), and briefly to 300°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Sources

ASTM D4895 — PTFE Resin Produced from Dispersion (fine powder) — ASTM International (2018)
ASTM F36 / F38 — Compressibility & Creep Relaxation of Gasket Materials — ASTM International (2020)
ASTM F104 — Classification System for Nonmetallic Gasket Materials — ASTM International (2019)
ASTM D882 / D1708 — Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting — ASTM International (2018)
Expanded PTFE gasket sheet, joint sealant and membrane datasheets — W. L. Gore & Associates / Donaldson / Sumitomo Electric (Poreflon) (2023)
Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics (PTFE section) — ASM International (1988)

Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.