Plastic Film & Tape: PTFE Skived Film, UHMW Tape & Thin Sheet
Plastic film and tape products cover the thinnest cross-sections of engineering plastic — from 0.005" (5 mils) to approximately 0.062" (1/16") — in roll, strip, or cut-sheet form. This category includes PTFE skived film for liners, valve seats, and electrical insulation; UHMW-PE pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape for wear strips and conveyor-guide liners; and thin sheet in acrylic, polycarbonate, and other materials for optical and structural glazing applications. Unlike thicker sheet stock that is machined or cut, film and tape products are typically applied directly to a surface, bonded, or installed as a drop-in liner.
TL;DR
- PTFE skived film: 0.005"–0.062" thick; widths to 60"; near-universal chemical resistance; pure and glass-filled grades
- UHMW-PE PSA tape: 0.015"–0.062" thick; PSA backer for no-drill wear strip installation; natural and black; FDA-compliant
- Thin plastic sheet (0.005"–0.062"): Acrylic, PC, PET and PETG, HDPE, PP for forming, glazing, and packaging
- PTFE film has the lowest friction of any solid material and is non-stick; best for liner and slide applications
- UHMW PSA tape installs in minutes with no fasteners — peel-and-stick wear protection on conveyors, guide rails, chutes
- Film tolerance: ±0.001"–±0.003" on thickness; ±0.010"–±0.030" on width
- Temperature range: PTFE film to 500°F (260°C); UHMW tape to 180°F (82°C)
Size Table — Film, Tape & Thin Sheet
| Product | Thickness Range | Width Range | Roll Length | Backing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTFE skived film (pure) | 0.005"–0.062" | 1"–60" | Up to 100 ft | None |
| PTFE skived film (glass-filled) | 0.010"–0.062" | 1"–48" | Up to 50 ft | None |
| UHMW-PE PSA tape | 0.015"–0.062" | 1/2"–24" | 50–100 ft rolls | Acrylic PSA |
| UHMW-PE film (non-PSA) | 0.010"–0.062" | 1"–48" | 50 ft | None |
| Polycarbonate thin sheet | 0.010"–0.062" | 24"–48" | Cut sheet | None |
| PET and PETG film | 0.005"–0.062" | 12"–60" | Roll | None |
| Acrylic thin sheet | 0.062" | 48"–60" | Cut sheet | None |
| HDPE thin sheet | 0.031"–0.062" | 48"–60" | Cut sheet | None |
Custom widths are slit to order from master rolls; minimum order quantities apply for widths outside standard catalog dimensions.
Materials Available in Film & Tape
PTFE Skived Film
PTFE (Teflon) skived film is produced by rotating a compressed-and-sintered PTFE billet against a precision lathe tool that peels thin, continuous layers — a process called skiving. The result is a flat, consistent film of nearly pure PTFE with the material's full suite of properties: chemical resistance to virtually all solvents and acids (except molten alkali metals and elemental fluorine), continuous service temperature from –328°F (–200°C) to 500°F (260°C), coefficient of friction as low as 0.04 dynamic against steel, and non-stick surface that prevents adhesion of most materials.
Standard thicknesses are 0.005", 0.010", 0.015", 0.020", 0.030", 0.045", and 0.062". Pure PTFE film is white and translucent; glass-filled (5%–15% glass) improves wear resistance and reduces creep under compressive load at the cost of slightly increased friction. PTFE film is used as a liner in chemical-process piping flanges, valve bodies, and pump housings; as a low-friction sliding surface in laboratory equipment; and as electrical insulation in high-frequency applications (dielectric constant 2.1, dissipation factor <0.0002 at 1 MHz).
UHMW-PE PSA Tape
UHMW-PE tape with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) backing is the fastest-to-install wear-protection product available. The tape consists of a film of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene — the most abrasion-resistant thermoplastic — laminated to an acrylic PSA on a peel-off liner. Installation is peel-and-stick: clean the substrate, peel the liner, press in place. No drilling, no fasteners, no cure time.
UHMW PSA tape is available in 0.015", 0.030", and 0.062" thicknesses; standard widths from 1/2" to 24". Acrylic PSA bond shear strength: 40–80 psi depending on substrate prep. Permanent and removable grades are stocked. FDA-compliant natural tape for food-processing; black for industrial applications.
UHMW PSA tape has a coefficient of friction of 0.10–0.20 against steel (dry) — higher than PTFE film but lower than most engineering plastics, and the PSA backing allows installation on curved and compound surfaces without machining. Operating temperature limit is 180°F (82°C) continuous; above this, the PSA softens and the tape may lift.
PET and PETG Film
PET and PETG thin film from 0.005" to 0.062" provides clarity, stiffness, and formability at moderate cost. PET film (biaxially oriented) is dimensionally stable and used for printed overlays, protective masks, and structural shims. PETG film is thermoformable and used for vacuum-formed display components, packaging shells, and thin blister trays. PETG outperforms PET in thermoforming because it has a wider forming window and lower forming temperatures.
Polycarbonate and Acrylic Thin Sheet
Polycarbonate thin sheet from 0.010"–0.062" is used for machine guard glazing, instrument windows, protective shields, and formed covers. Impact strength at 0.062" thick is exceptional — polycarbonate film of this thickness is effectively unbreakable under hand impact. Acrylic at 0.062" provides optical clarity and UV stability for signage, light-diffusion panels, and decorative covers. Both are available in clear and tinted finishes.
HDPE and PP Thin Sheet
HDPE thin sheet (0.031"–0.062") provides chemical resistance at low cost for tray liners, separator pads, and cutting surfaces. Polypropylene thin sheet resists a broader range of chemicals (including some oxidizers that attack HDPE) and is available in natural and colored grades for color-coded product-contact applications.
How Film & Tape Is Made
Skiving (PTFE)
PTFE skiving rotates a compression-molded, sintered billet against a precision blade, peeling a thin continuous film onto a take-up roll. Skiving is the only practical route for PTFE film because PTFE's extremely high melt viscosity prevents calendering or extrusion into film form. Thickness control is ±0.001"–±0.003" by precise blade-to-billet positioning. Widths above 24" require large-format billets or joined segments.
PSA Lamination (UHMW Tape)
UHMW-PE film is ram-extruded or calendered from powder, then laminated to a silicone-release liner with an acrylic PSA in a roll-to-roll coater. The finished roll is slit to width. PSA coat weight is typically 2–4 oz/yd².
Calendering and Extrusion (Thin Sheet)
PET, PETG, PC, and acrylic thin sheet is calendered between heated rollers or extruded through a flat die into a polishing roll stack. PET film is biaxially oriented for dimensional stability. Extrusion reaches 0.010" minimum; thinner gauges require tentering.
Specifications & Tolerances
Thickness Tolerance
| Product | Nominal Thickness | Thickness Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| PTFE skived film | 0.005"–0.062" | ±0.001"–±0.003" |
| UHMW PSA tape (total) | 0.015"–0.062" | ±0.002"–±0.005" |
| PET and PETG film | 0.005"–0.030" | ±0.001"–±0.002" |
| Extruded PC/Acrylic thin sheet | 0.031"–0.062" | ±0.003"–±0.006" |
| HDPE/PP thin sheet | 0.031"–0.062" | ±0.005"–±0.010" |
Width Tolerance
Standard slit widths hold ±0.010"–±0.030" depending on film type and slit equipment. Precision-slit products (optical films) hold ±0.005". Width tolerance is more critical in tape applications where the PSA must not overhang an adjacent surface.
Flatness
Thin film and tape products ship on rolls and will relax flat within 1–4 hours at room temperature after unrolling. PTFE film thicker than 0.030" may be supplied flat (not rolled) to avoid permanent curl. Do not store film rolls at temperatures above 100°F — the material will retain roll curvature.
Cutting & Finishing
Die Cutting
PTFE film and UHMW PSA tape are die-cut to custom shapes for gasket-like applications — valve seat inserts, flange liners, and pad shapes. Steel-rule dies cut clean edges in both materials. Tolerances on die-cut parts: ±0.015"–±0.030" for simple shapes; ±0.010" for precision shapes cut on a flatbed digital cutter.
Knife Slitting
Rolls are slit to custom widths on a rotary knife slitter. Edge quality depends on blade sharpness and film tension. Custom widths are available with a 50 ft minimum order.
Waterjet Cutting
For PTFE film thicker than 0.030" and complex shapes, waterjet cutting produces clean edges without heat-affected zones. Dimensional tolerance: ±0.005"–±0.015". Waterjet is also used to cut pre-laminated PSA tape parts, since the water does not degrade the acrylic PSA.
Laser Cutting
CO₂ laser cutting works well for PET, PETG, PC, and acrylic film. PTFE and UHMW film should not be laser-cut — PTFE releases toxic fluorine compounds when heated above its decomposition temperature, and UHMW produces significant smoke. Mark these materials mechanically or with waterjet.
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