Fluoropolymer

A fluoropolymer is a fluorocarbon-based polymer with multiple carbon–fluorine bonds. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases. The best known fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon).

History

In 1938, polytetrafluoroethylene (DuPont brand name Teflon) was discovered by accident by a recently hired DuPont Ph.D., Roy J. Plunkett. While working with tetrafluoroethylene gas, he noticed that a previously-pressurized cylinder had no pressure remaining. In dissecting the cylinder, he found a mass of white solid in a quantity similar to that of the tetrafluoroethylene gas. It was determined that this material was a new-to-the-world polymer. Tests showed the substance was resistant to corrosion from most substances and had better high temperature stability than any other plastic. By early 1941, a crash program was making commercial quantities.[1][2][3][4]

Properties

Fluoropolymers share the properties of fluorocarbons in that they are not as susceptible to the van der Waals force as hydrocarbons. This contributes to their non-stick and friction reducing properties. Also, they are stable due to the stability multiple carbon–fluorine bonds add to a chemical compound. Fluoropolymers may be mechanically characterized as thermosets or thermoplastics. Fluoropolymers can be homopolymers or Copolymer.

Examples of monomers used to prepare fluoropolymers

Current market and forecast

The global demand on fluoropolymers was estimated at approximately US$7.25 billion in 2011. Driven by new developments of products, applications, and processes, as well as strong demands in new markets, the demand is expected to grow by 5.8% in the following years.[5]

Some of the world's largest manufacturers of fluoropolymers include DuPont, 3M, Solvay Chemicals, BASF and Dyneon.[6]

Examples of fluoropolymers
FluoropolymerTrade namesMonomersMelting point (°C)
PVF (polyvinylfluoride)Tedlar[7]VF1200[8]
PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)Kynar[9] Solef[10] Hylar[11]VF2175
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)Sold by AGC under the tradename Fluon PTFE; Sold by Dupont and Chemours Company under the tradename Teflon; sold by Solvay Specialty Polymers under the tradenames Algoflon Hyflon and Polymist; sold by Daikin under the tradename PolyflonTFE327
PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene)Kel-F (3M), Neoflon (Daikin)CTFE220[8]
PFA, MFA [12] (perfluoroalkoxy polymer)Sold by AGC under the tradename Fluon PFA. Sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon. Sold by Solvay Specialty Polymers under the tradename Hyflon.[13] Neoflon (Daikin)PPVE + TFE305
FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene)Sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon FEP. Also known as Neoflon (Daikin) and HyflonHFP + TFE260
ETFE (polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene)Sold by AGC under the trade name of FluonETFE[14] Tefzel,;[15] sold by Daikin under the tradename NeoflonTFE + E265
ECTFE (polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene)Halar[16] sold by Solvay Specialty PolymersCTFE + E
FFPM/FFKM (Perfluorinated Elastomer [Perfluoroelastomer])Kalrez.[17] Tecnoflon PFR[18] DAI-EL (Daikin)
FPM/FKM (Fluoroelastomer [Vinylidene Fluoride based copolymers])Viton,[19] Tecnoflon FKM, DAI-EL (Daikin), Fluonox (Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited)
FEPM (Fluoroelastomer [Tetrafluoroethylene-Propylene])Sold by AGC under the trade name of AFLAS,[20]TFE + P
PFPE (Perfluoropolyether)Sold by DuPont under the tradename Krytox.[21] Sold by Solvay Specialty Polymers S.p.A. as Fomblin and Galden
PFSA (Perfluorosulfonic acid)Nafion
Perfluoropolyoxetane

Typical properties

[22]

PropertyMethod No.UnitsPTFEFEPPFAETFEECTFEPCTFEPVDF
Specific gravityD792-2.172.152.151.71.72.151.78
Yield strengthD638MPa101215.524314046
Yield strengthD638PSI1,4501,7402,2503,4804,5005,8006,670
Elongation%200-500250-350300200-500200-30080-25020-150
Tensile modulusD638MPa6005007001500165515002400
Tensile modulusD638ksi8772.5101.5217.5240218348
HardnessD2240Shore D60576275759079
HDT, @ 66 PSID648°F250158164219240248300
HDT, @ 264 PSID648°F122129118160169-239
Limiting oxygen indexD2863%>95>95>9530-36
Dielectric constantD1501 MHz2.12.12.12.6

See also

References
  1. Iddon, Brian (1985). The Magic of Chemistry. Eastleigh:BDH. pp. 10–11. ISBN 0-9500439-6-6.
  2. Kirsch, Peer (2004). "Fluorine". Modern Fluoroorganic Chemistry: Synthesis, reactivity, applications. pp. 3–10. ISBN 978-3-527-30691-6. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  3. Hounshell, David A.; Smith, John Kenly (1988). Science and Corporate Strategy: DuPont R&D, 1902–1980. Cambridge University Press. pp. 147, 156–57, 482–484. ISBN 0-521-32767-9.
  4. Okazoe, Takashi (2009). "Overview on the history of organofluorine chemistry from the viewpoint of material industry". Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B. 85 (8): 276–89. Bibcode:2009PJAB...85..276O. doi:10.2183/pjab.85.276. PMC 3621566. PMID 19838009.
  5. "Market Report: Global Fluoropolymer Market". Acmite Market Intelligence. External link in |publisher= (help)
  6. "21 Fluoropolymer Facts for Engineers". AFT Fluorotec. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  7. Tedlar is a registered trademark of DuPont
  8. Christopher C. Ibeh (2011). THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS Properties, Manufacturing Methods, and Applications. CRC Press. pp. 491–497. ISBN 978-1-4200-9383-4.
  9. Kynar is a registered trademark of Arkema, Inc.
  10. Solef is a registered trademark of Solvay specialty polymers S.p.A.
  11. Hylar is a registered trademark of Solvay specialty polymers S.p.A.
  12. "Typical Properties of Fluropolymers". Fluoropolymer. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  13. Hyflon is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
  14. Fluon is a registered trademark of Asahi Glass Company
  15. Tefzel is a registered trademark of DuPont
  16. Halar is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
  17. Kalrez is a registered trademark of DuPont
  18. Tecnoflon is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
  19. Viton is a registered trademark of DuPont
  20. AFLAS is a registered trademark of AGC(Asahi Glass Co, Ltd.)
  21. Krytox is a registered trademark of DuPont
  22. "Typical Properties of Fluoropolymers". Fluorotherm. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
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