Have you tried Rulon and Fluorosint as PTFE coupler replacement materials?

geert_2 · July 4, 2016

Out of curiosity, a question to the Ultimaker developers: have you ever tried "Rulon" and "Fluorosint" for the PTFE couplers?

Rulon is an enhanced PTFE material, with higher mechanical and temperature resistance than normal PTFE (some sources say 260°C, some say 288°C max continuous temp). It is used for high performance seals and bearings. Being a PTFE-based material, low friction and self-lubricating, it might also work well with PLA?

Fluorosint is PTFE filled with mica, with one version going up to 315°C max continuous service temp.

I stumbled upon this, after reading the recent post by gudo on using PBI (Polybenzlmidazole, Celazole) to replace the teflon coupler. When looking up PBI, I also found these materials which may be a lot easier to machine.

See:

http://www.boedeker.com/rulon_p.htm (red color)

http://www.boedeker.com/fluorosint.htm (grey color)

http://www.plasticsintl.com/enhanced-ptfe.htm

http://www.plasticsintl.com/rulonlr.htm (red color)

http://www.plasticsintl.com/rulonj.htm (brown-yellow color)

If you have tried them, how wel or how bad did they perform? If not yet tested, it might be worth asking a few samples?

Geert