Custom PTFE Gaskets & High-Performance Teflon® Seals

Advanced Industrial is a leader in the precision CNC machining of custom PTFE gaskets and Teflon® seals for critical applications. Off-the-shelf components often fail to meet the unique pressure, temperature, chemical, and dimensional requirements of specialized industrial equipment. We bridge that gap by engineering and manufacturing sealing solutions tailored to your exact specifications. By combining state-of-the-art manufacturing with unparalleled expertise in high-performance polymers, we deliver robust, reliable seals that prevent leaks, minimize downtime, and ensure the operational integrity of your most critical systems.

The Critical Role of High-Performance Gaskets and Seals

In any fluid or gas handling system, the gasket or seal is one of the most vital components. Though small, its performance is critical. A gasket provides a static seal between two stationary, flat surfaces, such as pipe flanges or engine components. A seal, such as a lip seal or O-ring, is often used in dynamic applications involving motion, like sealing a rotating shaft or a reciprocating piston.

Failure is not an option in demanding environments. A compromised seal can lead to catastrophic equipment failure, costly production downtime, safety hazards for personnel, and environmental compliance issues. This is why material selection is paramount.

Why PTFE is the Premier Material for Sealing Applications

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), sold under brand names like Teflon®, is a fluoropolymer with a unique combination of properties that make it an ideal choice for the most challenging sealing applications:

• Unmatched Chemical Inertness: PTFE is virtually inert to almost all industrial chemicals, acids, and caustics. This makes it the default choice for gaskets and seals in chemical processing, pharmaceutical, and oil and gas applications where aggressive media is present.
• Wide Service Temperature Range: PTFE seals can perform reliably in extreme temperatures, typically from cryogenic levels (-200°C / -328°F) up to 260°C (500°F), without degrading or becoming brittle.
• Extremely Low Coefficient of Friction: With one of the lowest friction values of any solid material, PTFE is self-lubricating. This is essential for dynamic seals, as it reduces wear, prevents stick-slip, and lowers energy consumption.
• Hydrophobic Properties: PTFE does not absorb water and has excellent resistance to moisture, making it ideal for subsea applications, food processing, and high-humidity environments.
• FDA-Compliant Grades Available: Virgin PTFE is inherently pure and can meet FDA, USDA, and 3A sanitary standards, making it perfectly suited for seals in food, beverage, and medical applications where cleanliness and non-toxicity are required.

Engineered PTFE Materials for Enhanced Sealing Performance

While virgin PTFE offers remarkable properties, its performance can be further enhanced for specific mechanical challenges by compounding it with filler materials. Adding fillers like glass, carbon, or bronze significantly improves key properties like wear resistance, compressive strength, and resistance to “cold flow” or creep—the tendency of a material to deform under sustained pressure. This allows us to engineer a sealing solution perfectly matched to your application’s demands.

Types of Teflon Gaskets and Seals We Machine

Our CNC machining capabilities allow us to produce a wide variety of custom seal and gasket profiles. If you don’t see your required component below, contact us with your design specifications.

Flange Gaskets Including full-face gaskets that cover the entire flange surface and ring-type (IBC) gaskets that fit within the bolt circle. Full-face PTFE gaskets distribute sealing stress evenly across the entire flange surface, making them ideal for applications with lower bolt torques or where flange distortion is a concern, such as glass-lined equipment and large-diameter piping systems. Ring-type gaskets, also known as Inside Bolt Circle (IBC) gaskets, are designed to fit within the raised face of standard flanges and provide concentrated sealing pressure around the inner diameter. These Teflon gaskets are particularly effective in high-pressure applications like steam systems, chemical processing equipment, and pressure vessels where maintaining a reliable seal is critical for both safety and operational efficiency.

PTFE O-Rings Ideal for static sealing applications where standard elastomer O-rings fail due to chemical attack or extreme temperatures. Unlike molded elastomer O-rings, machined PTFE O-rings maintain their dimensional stability and sealing properties when exposed to aggressive chemicals, high temperatures up to 260°C, and cryogenic conditions down to -200°C. These Teflon O-rings are essential in applications such as chemical reactor flanges, high-temperature valve bonnets, and laboratory equipment where chemical compatibility and temperature resistance are paramount. The precision machining process ensures consistent cross-sectional geometry and surface finish, providing reliable sealing performance in static applications across a wide range of industries including pharmaceutical manufacturing, semiconductor processing, and analytical instrumentation.

V-Rings (Chevron Seals) Multi-lip sealing sets used in high-pressure hydraulic cylinders and valves, offering excellent sealing efficiency and longevity. These specialized seals feature a V-shaped cross-section that creates multiple sealing lips, allowing them to accommodate higher pressures than single-lip designs while maintaining low friction characteristics. PTFE V-rings are particularly valuable in hydraulic systems operating at pressures exceeding 3,000 PSI, where they provide superior sealing performance with minimal friction and wear. The modular design of chevron seal sets allows for pressure staging across multiple sealing elements, making them ideal for applications such as hydraulic presses, injection molding machines, and high-pressure pumps where reliable sealing under extreme conditions is essential.

Lip Seals Dynamic seals used to contain pressure and exclude contaminants on rotating shafts. PTFE lip seals combine the chemical resistance and temperature stability of Teflon with specialized geometries designed to accommodate shaft movement while maintaining effective sealing contact. These seals are engineered with controlled interference fits and optimized lip angles to provide consistent sealing pressure without excessive friction that could cause premature wear or shaft damage. Teflon lip seals are particularly effective in applications involving aggressive chemicals, high temperatures, or abrasive environments where conventional elastomer seals would quickly degrade, such as chemical pumps, mixers, and rotating equipment in corrosive service.

Piston Rings & Rider Rings Critical components in reciprocating compressors and actuators, providing a seal while guiding the piston. PTFE piston rings offer superior wear resistance and dimensional stability compared to traditional materials, ensuring consistent sealing performance over millions of operating cycles. Rider rings work in conjunction with piston rings to provide radial support and prevent metal-to-metal contact between the piston and cylinder bore, significantly extending equipment life and reducing maintenance requirements. These Teflon components are essential in applications such as natural gas compressors, process gas compressors, and pneumatic actuators where reliable sealing and smooth operation are critical for maintaining system efficiency and preventing costly downtime.

Backup Rings Used in conjunction with O-rings in high-pressure applications to prevent the O-ring from extruding into the clearance gap. Teflon backup rings provide the mechanical strength needed to support elastomer O-rings under high pressure while maintaining the chemical compatibility and temperature resistance that Teflon is known for. These rings are precisely machined to fit standard O-ring grooves and are available in various hardness levels to match specific application requirements. Teflon backup rings are indispensable in high-pressure hydraulic systems, pneumatic equipment, and chemical processing applications where O-ring extrusion could lead to seal failure and system contamination or safety hazards.

Washers & Spacers Precision-cut components used for spacing, insulation, and load distribution in various assemblies. PTFE washers provide excellent electrical insulation properties while resisting chemical attack and maintaining dimensional stability across a wide temperature range. These components are commonly used in electrical assemblies, chemical equipment, and mechanical systems where precise spacing and reliable insulation are required. Teflon spacers offer superior performance in applications involving corrosive environments, high temperatures, or where contamination from traditional materials could compromise product quality, making them essential components in analytical instruments, food processing equipment, and semiconductor manufacturing systems.

Types of Applications Using PTFE Seals and Gaskets

Teflon® Gaskets and Seals for Chemical Processing

The chemical processing industry operates under some of the most demanding conditions, where equipment reliability and safety are paramount. PTFE is the material of choice for sealing solutions in this sector due to its near-universal chemical inertness. Our custom gaskets and seals are engineered to withstand prolonged exposure to a vast range of aggressive media, including strong acids, caustics, solvents, and other corrosive chemicals that would rapidly degrade lesser materials. By preventing leaks in critical equipment like reactors, pumps, valves, and piping flanges, our Teflon® seals ensure process integrity, protect personnel, and prevent costly environmental incidents.

PTFE Gaskets and Seals in the Oil & Gas Industry

From downhole exploration to topside refining, the oil and gas industry requires seals that can perform flawlessly under extreme pressure and temperature (HPHT) conditions. PTFE and its filled grades provide the robustness needed to handle abrasive media, sour gas (H₂S), and aggressive inhibitors. We machine dynamic seals for blowout preventers (BOPs), valve seals that ensure bubble-tight shutoff, and gaskets for high-pressure flanges. The material’s reliability in these critical applications helps prevent catastrophic failures, maximizes uptime, and ensures operational safety in one of the world’s most challenging environments.

Teflon® Gaskets and Seals for Food, Beverage & Dairy Industries

In industries where hygiene is non-negotiable, our Teflon® seals provide the purity and performance required. We use FDA-compliant and 3A sanitary standard virgin PTFE to manufacture seals for processing equipment like pumps, fillers, and mixing vessels. The material’s hydrophobic, non-stick surface resists bacterial adhesion and product buildup, simplifying clean-in-place (CIP) and steam-in-place (SIP) procedures. Furthermore, PTFE is completely inert and will not impart any taste or odor, ensuring the final product remains pure and uncontaminated from processing to packaging.

PTFE Gaskets and Seals for Pharmaceutical & Medical

Purity and non-reactivity are the cornerstones of pharmaceutical and medical applications. Our custom PTFE seals are manufactured from high-purity grades to prevent process contamination and ensure product efficacy. These seals are used in everything from analytical equipment like HPLC systems to bioreactors and sterile fluid handling. Because PTFE is non-reactive with active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and can withstand aggressive sterilization methods, including autoclaving, it is the ideal choice for creating reliable seals that meet the stringent validation and regulatory requirements of the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

Teflon® Seals and Gaskets in Aerospace & Defense

Aerospace and defense systems demand absolute reliability in extreme operating conditions. Teflon® gaskets and seals are critical components due to their incredibly wide service temperature range, from cryogenic rocket propellants to high-temperature engine compartments. They offer outstanding resistance to aggressive hydraulic fluids, jet fuels, and de-icing agents. The low-friction properties of PTFE are also vital for the a smooth operation of flight control systems, landing gear actuators, and other dynamic components where stick-slip motion is unacceptable. Every seal is machined with precision to meet exacting military and aviation standards.

PTFE Gaskets and Seals for the Semiconductor Industry

In semiconductor fabrication, even microscopic contamination can lead to the failure of an entire batch of microchips, costing millions. Our high-purity PTFE seals are essential for maintaining the sterile integrity of the manufacturing environment. They are used in equipment that handles ultra-pure water (UPW) and highly aggressive wet-etch chemicals used in wafer processing. The material’s inherent purity and chemical inertness ensure that it will not leach contaminants or shed particles into the process stream, protecting yields and ensuring the reliability of sensitive electronic components.

The Advanced Industrial Advantage: Precision & Partnership

Choosing the right manufacturing partner is just as important as choosing the right material. We go beyond simply making parts; we provide solutions.

• Precision from Start to Finish: Our facility is equipped with multi-axis CNC lathes and milling centers capable of holding extremely tight tolerances (+/- 0.001″ or better). Every component is verified using calibrated inspection equipment to ensure it meets your drawing’s requirements.
• From Prototype to Production: We support your project from the very beginning. We can machine single prototypes for fit and function testing, run small pre-production batches, and scale up to meet your full production demands.
• Consultative Approach: Our team has decades of experience working with high-performance plastics. We can assist your design team with material selection and even offer suggestions for design for manufacturability (DFM) to improve performance and reduce cost.

Ready to discuss your custom PTFE gasket or seal application? Contact us today to request a quote.  We also manufacturer PTFE thrust washers, and Teflon valve seats.