Custom PTFE & Teflon® Thrust Washers

Advanced Industrial is a leading manufacturer of precision-machined PTFE and Teflon® thrust washers for demanding industrial and mechanical applications. Thrust washers are critical components designed to manage axial loads, but standard, off-the-shelf parts often fail to meet the specific wear, friction, and environmental challenges of high-performance equipment. We specialize in engineering custom thrust washers from advanced PTFE materials that provide superior durability, eliminate the need for lubrication, and extend the service life of rotating assemblies. Our commitment to precision ensures every washer delivers smooth, reliable performance under pressure.

What are Thrust Washers?

A thrust washer is a specialized type of flat bearing used to support and manage axial loads in rotating systems. An axial, or “thrust,” load is a force exerted parallel to the axis of a shaft. The primary functions of a thrust washer are to provide a low-friction wear surface between moving and stationary components, prevent axial movement along a shaft, and maintain the precise alignment of rotating parts. They are essential in applications ranging from automotive transmissions to industrial gearboxes. The failure of a thrust washer can lead to increased friction, component damage, and catastrophic system failure, making the selection of the right material and manufacturer absolutely critical.

Why Choose PTFE for High-Performance Thrust Washers?

While thrust washers can be made from various materials, PTFE (Teflon®) and its engineered compounds offer a combination of properties that make them the superior choice for applications where performance and reliability are paramount. The benefits are directly tied to the material’s unique molecular structure.

Self-Lubricating for Maintenance-Free Operation

The most significant advantage of PTFE is its extremely low coefficient of friction, which is one of the lowest of any solid material. This self-lubricating characteristic means PTFE thrust washers can operate without any external grease or oil, reducing system complexity and eliminating maintenance requirements. This is ideal for sealed-for-life units, applications in clean environments like food processing, or where lubrication could attract contaminants. The result is smoother, quieter, and more efficient operation.

Superior Wear Resistance and Durability

In a thrust application, wear resistance is key to longevity. While virgin PTFE is suitable for lower loads, its performance is dramatically enhanced with the addition of fillers like bronze, carbon, or glass. These fillers act as a reinforcing matrix within the PTFE, significantly increasing the material’s ability to withstand pressure and abrasive wear from rotating components. A properly selected filled PTFE compound will far outlast other polymer and even some metallic washers in high-cycle, high-load applications.

High Compressive Strength and Creep Resistance

Thrust washers are constantly under axial pressure. A material’s ability to resist “creep” or “cold flow”—the tendency to deform permanently under a sustained load—is essential. Fillers like bronze and carbon give PTFE excellent compressive strength and dimensional stability, ensuring the washer maintains its critical thickness and flatness over millions of cycles, even at elevated temperatures.

Materials for PTFE Thrust Washers

To enhance the mechanical properties of PTFE, various fillers can be added. The choice of filler depends on the specific requirements of the application, such as load, speed, and operating temperature. Below is a table of common PTFE materials used for thrust washers, along with their properties.

Common Types and Configurations of PTFE Thrust Washers

Beyond material selection, the physical design of a thrust washer is critical for its integration and performance. As a custom CNC machining specialist, we can produce PTFE thrust washers in virtually any configuration to meet your specific application needs. These design features are often key to solving complex mechanical challenges.

Standard Flat PTFE Thrust Washers

This is the most common configuration—a simple, solid, flat disc with a precise inner and outer diameter. It serves the fundamental purpose of separating two components and providing a low-friction surface to manage axial loads. While simple in form, precision manufacturing is key to ensuring perfect flatness and tight dimensional tolerances for optimal performance.

Teflon® Thrust Washers with Grooves and Channels

For applications that utilize external lubrication or operate in environments with particulate contamination, grooves can be machined into the face of the washer. These features can be designed as circular or radial channels that act as reservoirs to distribute grease or oil evenly across the wear surface. In other applications, they are designed to trap and channel away abrasive debris, preventing damage to the shaft or housing.

Custom PTFE Thrust Washers with Anti-Rotation Tabs

In many assemblies, it is crucial that the thrust washer remains stationary against its housing rather than spinning with the rotating shaft. We can machine a variety of anti-rotation features, such as keyways, notches on the outer diameter, or protruding tabs (often called “ears”). These features lock the washer in place, ensuring that all rotational wear occurs on the intended low-friction face of the washer.

Lightweight & Scalloped Teflon® Thrust Washers

In industries like aerospace or robotics, minimizing component weight is a primary design goal. We can machine scallops around the edge of a washer or add holes through its body to reduce mass without compromising its load-bearing surface area. These features can also serve as passages for cooling fluids or to simplify installation and alignment.

Split PTFE Thrust Washers for Easy Installation

A split thrust washer is a C-shaped component that is intentionally manufactured with a cut through one side. This design is invaluable for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) applications, as it allows the washer to be installed or replaced without the need to completely dismantle the entire shaft assembly. This can save hours of labor and significantly reduce equipment downtime.

Profiled and Stepped Teflon® Thrust Washers

When a standard flat disc won’t fit, we can create washers with complex, multi-dimensional profiles. This includes stepped designs with multiple thicknesses, washers with precisely chamfered or radiused edges for easier assembly, or unique face profiles that mate perfectly with custom components. These bespoke designs often combine the function of a washer and a spacer into a single, high-performance part.

Industries & Applications for Custom Teflon® Thrust Washers

PTFE thrust washers are valued for their reliability and performance across a wide range of industries where low friction and chemical resistance are critical. Their versatility makes them a key component in countless mechanical systems.

Teflon® Thrust Washers for the Automotive Industry

In the automotive sector, our thrust washers are critical for ensuring smooth, quiet, and reliable operation in a variety of systems. They are widely used in automatic transmissions to manage axial loads between planetary gear sets, in steering columns, hinge mechanisms, and seating adjustment systems. The self-lubricating properties of PTFE eliminate squeaks and rattles and provide maintenance-free performance for the life of the vehicle.

PTFE Thrust Washers in Industrial Machinery and Pumps

Our PTFE thrust washers are essential components in heavy-duty industrial equipment, including gearboxes, conveyors, and rotating machinery. In chemical pumps, PTFE’s chemical inertness prevents degradation from corrosive fluids, while its wear resistance ensures a long service life. By managing the axial forces on shafts and impellers, our washers prevent costly downtime and improve the overall efficiency of the equipment.

Teflon® Thrust Washers for Aerospace & Defense

Aerospace and defense applications demand lightweight components that perform reliably across a wide temperature range. Teflon® thrust washers are used in flight control actuators, landing gear systems, and other critical assemblies where low friction and resistance to aggressive hydraulic fluids and fuels are essential. Their reliability under extreme conditions makes them a trusted solution for mission-critical applications.

PTFE Thrust Washers in Electronics and Appliances

In smaller-scale applications, PTFE thrust washers provide the quiet, clean, and smooth operation required for consumer and business electronics. They are found in small electric motors, printers, and appliances where traditional lubricated bearings are impractical. Their ability to operate without grease or oil prevents contamination of sensitive electronic components and ensures a long, maintenance-free product life.

Custom PTFE Thrust Washer Machining

At Advanced Industrial, we have the expertise and equipment to machine custom PTFE thrust washers to your exact specifications. Whether you need a simple design or a complex, high-tolerance component, we can deliver a solution that meets your needs.