Description
Teflon® tape is a specialized type of tape used in plumbing to
seal connections throughly, ensuring that pipes will not leak. This
tape is also referred to as poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) tape.
It is available at most hardware and home supply stores, usually in
the plumbing section, and it is a standard part of the toolkit of
people who do any sort of plumbing work.
PTFE is a very interesting substance. From a plumbing point of
view, it\'s important to note that it is very flexible and that it
has immense tensile strength. When Teflon® tape is used to wrap
the threads of a pipe, the tape acts almost like putty, filling the
space and preventing leakage. While it is possible to use plumbing
putty for tasks like this, Teflon® tape is quicker and easier, and
often much neater, as well.
Typically, PTFE tape is white, because this is the natural color of
the substance. Some companies make color coded PTFE tape, with
different colors being designed for different types of plumbing.
The Teflon® tape used for gas plumbing, for example, is thicker to
prevent gas leaks, and it may be coded blue or yellow. The tape is
not adhesive, tending to cling with pressure but being easy to move
and reposition.
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