Fluoropolymer

A fluoropolymer is a fluorocarbon based polymer with multiple strong carbon–fluorine bonds. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.

Contents

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 missing weight. Scraping down his container, he found white flakes of 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]

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 copolymers.

Examples of monomers used to prepare fluoropolymers

Examples of fluoropolymers

Fluoropolymer Trade names Monomers Melting point
PVF (polyvinylfluoride) Tedlar[4] VF1 200°C
PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) Kynar[5] Solef[6] Hylar[7] VF2 175°C
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) Sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon; sold by Solvay Solexis under the tradenames Algoflon and Polymist TFE 327 °C
PCTFE (Kel-F, CTFE) (polychlorotrifluoroethylene) CTFE
PFA (perfluoroalkoxy polymer) Sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon. Hyflon[8] PPVE + TFE 305°C
FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene) Sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon HFP + TFE 260°C
ETFE (polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene) Tefzel,[9] Fluon[10] TFE + E 265°C
ECTFE (polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene) Halar[11] CTFE + E
FFPM/FFKM (Perfluorinated Elastomer [Perfluoroelastomer]) Kalrez.[12] Tecnoflon[13]
FPM/FKM (Fluorocarbon [Chlorotrifluoroethylenevinylidene fluoride]) Viton,[14] Tecnoflon FKM
PFPE (Perfluoropolyether) Sold by DuPont under the tradename Krytox. Sold by Solvay Solexis S.p.A. as Fomblin and Galden
Nafion
Perfluoropolyoxetane

See also

References

  1. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ModFcchem; see Help:Cite errors/Cite error references no text
  2. ^ 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 0521327679. 
  3. ^ 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. 
  4. ^ Tedlar is a registered trademark of DuPont
  5. ^ Kynar is a registered trademark of Arkema, Inc.
  6. ^ Solef is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
  7. ^ Hylar is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
  8. ^ Hyflon is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
  9. ^ Tefzel is a registered trademark of DuPont
  10. ^ Fluon is a registered trademark of Asahi Glass Company
  11. ^ Halar is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
  12. ^ Kalrez is a registered trademark of DuPont
  13. ^ Tecnoflon is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
  14. ^ Viton is a registered trademark of DuPont

15. Kryrox is a registered trademark of DuPont

External links