The chemical inertness of PTFE is virtually total.

Molten or dissolved alkali metals, such as sodium in liquid ammonia, will abstract fluorine from the molecule to leave a black (carbon) surface finish. At elevated temperature attack by fluorine, some fluorine related compounds, alkali earth and alkali metal oxides and carbonates has been noted.

Both chlorine and bromine diffuse reversibly into PTFE without any apparent chemical reaction.

PTFE is commonly known as Teflon^®, a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company.