Last updated: August 2026
This is the technical library behind the product range: what PTFE is and how it behaves, how to fit and change the part on your machine, how the brands and materials compare, and a set of engineering calculators for sizing belts, seals and thermal loads.
Everything here is written for maintenance engineers and production managers running heat sealing, drying and pressing equipment in Australia and New Zealand. If you are looking for a product rather than an explanation, start from the product range.
Learn
What the material is and how it behaves.
- What is PTFE?Polytetrafluoroethylene explained: −200 to +260°C, chemical resistance and the non-stick surface.
- What is Teflon Tape?Plumber’s thread tape versus industrial PTFE tape, and which one you actually need.
- How to Use Teflon TapeWrapping direction and turns on pipe threads, and how industrial tape goes onto a sealer.
- PTFE Chemical Resistance GuideWhat attacks PTFE and what does not, across acids, bases, solvents and oxidisers.
- PTFE Temperature GuideHeat resistance from −73°C to +260°C, and how temperature shortens tape life.
- PTFE Electrical InsulationFilm tape for wire harnesses, transformer coils, motor windings and battery packs.
Guides
How to fit, change and get more life out of the product on your machine.
- How Often to Change Heat Seal TapeThe signs of wear, what shortens tape life, and when to change it before it fails mid-run.
- How to Replace Heat Sealer TapeStep by step for impulse sealers, L-bar sealers, flow wrappers and tray sealers.
- PTFE Tape for Heat PressesPlaten tape for sublimation, DTF, HTV and screen printing, and how to pick a thickness.
- Teflon Sheet for Heat PressProtecting garments and platens with a reusable cover sheet, and what size to cut.
- Heat Seal Tape for Food PackagingTape by machine type, plus the FDA and HACCP side of food contact.
- PTFE Tape for Welding ProtectionSpatter masking, solder splash protection and heat shielding in fabrication.
- PTFE Tape for Low-Friction Wear StripsFilm tape as a slide surface on guide rails, drawer tracks and part feeders.
- Belt Join TypesAlligator, butt, castellated, clipper, finger, overlap and scarfed joins compared.
- Belt Edging & Belt Tracking CordEdge reinforcement and tracking options that keep a belt running straight.
Comparisons
Choosing between brands, materials and suppliers.
- Best PTFE Tape Brands ComparedGORTEF, 3M, Techbelt and generic imports on range, quality, price and availability.
- Teflon Tape AlternativesWhat to use instead, for plumbing and for industrial release, with a comparison chart.
- Where to Buy PTFE Tape in AustraliaBuying industrial PTFE tape in Australia and New Zealand, with no minimum order.
Tools & Calculators
Nine free engineering calculators covering belt length and speed, seal temperature, thermal expansion, heat transfer, friction, chemical compatibility, OEE and the cost of downtime. No sign-up, and every result is shareable as a URL.
Open the tools and calculatorsProduct Catalogue
The whole range in one printable document, with product codes, constructions and thicknesses.
View the GORTEF product catalogueMachine Cross-Reference
Search packaging and garment machines by model number or by the OEM part number printed on the worn part, and find the GORTEF product that replaces it.
Find products for your machineFrequently Asked Questions
Read "What is PTFE" for the material properties, then "What is Teflon tape" to see the difference between plumber's thread tape and the industrial coated fabric tape used on machinery. Between them they cover the two things people most often get wrong: the temperature ceiling and which of the two products they actually need.
Yes. All nine run in your browser with no sign-up and nothing is sent anywhere. Each one puts its inputs in the page URL, so you can bookmark a calculation or send the link to a colleague and they will see the same numbers.
In practice, yes. PTFE is polytetrafluoroethylene, the polymer itself; Teflon is a brand name for it. Australian buyers use both terms for the same product, so these guides use whichever term is more natural for the application being described.
Each page carries a "last updated" date near the top. Buying and comparison pages are reviewed every three to six months, and the material explainers annually or whenever a specification changes.
