--- title: "Fluorogold® vs. Teflon®: The Best Material Choice for Durable Slide Bearings" description: The Steel Supply Company specializes in Slide Bearings using Fluorogold®, PTFE, Teflon®, Graphite and a wide range of configurations. image: https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hubfs/Picture1-Sep-09-2024-08-12-01-9901-PM.jpg --- [![Providing Structural and Miscellaneous Steel Fabricators](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/file-14727826-jpg/images/bannerfixed-webrdy.jpg?width=750&name=bannerfixed-webrdy.jpg "Providing Structural and Miscellaneous Steel Fabricators")](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/) - [![the steel supply company](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-1.jpg?width=88&name=logo-1.jpg "the steel supply company")](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/) - [![The Steel Supply Co, Inc](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hubfs/top-text-new.png)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/) - [![Specialized Supplies for Structural and Miscellaneous Steel Fabricators](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hubfs/bottom-text-new.png)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/) ![BLOG TheSteelSupplyCo banner950x250](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/file-730735349-jpg/images/blog_thesteelsupplyco_banner950x250.jpg?width=760&name=blog_thesteelsupplyco_banner950x250.jpg) ## Steel Manufacturing Blog: Keeping it Steel # Fluorogold® vs. Teflon®: The Best Material Choice for Durable Slide Bearings Posted on Wed, Sep 11, 2024 @ 06:54 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The Steel Supply Company specializes in Slide Bearings using Fluorogold®, PTFE, Teflon®, Graphite and a wide range of configurations. **Teflon® on Teflon® – Watch the Indents** One common design variation we see in Slide Bearing drawings is the PTFE / Teflon® call out for both the upper and lower members. This can be done with Fluorogold®. It is not recommended when the sliding material is Teflon® or PTFE. Starting with the basic, most common assembly # FC-1010-CS, the upper member is **always bigger than the lower.** (Fig. 1). [It is also large enough to accommodate the travel the upper member will display during expansion and contraction.](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/fluorogold-slide-bearings-/-teflon-slide-bearings)   *![Picture1-Sep-09-2024-08-12-01-9901-PM](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Picture1-Sep-09-2024-08-12-01-9901-PM.jpg?width=317&height=167&name=Picture1-Sep-09-2024-08-12-01-9901-PM.jpg)Fig. 1 Shows the travel of the upper member caused by expansion and contraction.*           Fluorogold®, with its more durable fiber infused composition, is able to support the designed load in any position. If the bearing material is unfilled PTFE / Teflon® the lower member can leave impressions in the upper surface. Fig. 2. ![Picture2-Sep-09-2024-08-12-32-9045-PM](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Picture2-Sep-09-2024-08-12-32-9045-PM.jpg?width=624&height=185&name=Picture2-Sep-09-2024-08-12-32-9045-PM.jpg) *Fig. 2       When both upper and lower members are PTFE / Teflon® the lower member will indent the Upper Member. View is exaggerated for display purposes.* These impressions can inhibit the required movement and accelerate wear of the sliding surface. Fluorogold® bearing material is fiber infused to provide greater compressive strength and durability. This gives it the ability to resist indentations. For this reason, whenever an upper and lower member will both have a bonded sliding surface, we recommend Fluorogold®. If the designer requires the sliding surface to be PTFE/Teflon® it will be suggested the lower surface is, but the upper can be switched to Stainless Steel.   *Fig. 3![Picture3-Sep-09-2024-08-12-49-3778-PM](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Picture3-Sep-09-2024-08-12-49-3778-PM.jpg?width=240&height=235&name=Picture3-Sep-09-2024-08-12-49-3778-PM.jpg)  Slide Bearing Assembly with the lower member being PTFE and the upper made of Stainless Steel with a #2B finish.                                                                                    *     As shown in Fig. 3, the lower member is unfilled PTFE / Teflon®. Regardless of movement, it will always make full contact with the larger upper Stainless-Steel member. This removes the possibility of the lower member indenting the surface of the upper. The polished finish of the stainless surface allows for a lower co-efficient of friction, similar to that of a Teflon®/ Teflon® or Fluorogold® / Fluorogold® assembly. These recommendations should be reviewed before making any adjustments to the plans. 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