Fluoropolymer
Encyclopedia
A fluoropolymer is a fluorocarbon
based polymer
with multiple strong carbon–fluorine bond
s. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.
to form polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE, more commonly known by the DuPont trademark Teflon).
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 thermoplastic
s. Fluoropolymers can be homopolymers or copolymers.
Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbons, sometimes referred to as perfluorocarbons or PFCs, are organofluorine compounds that contain only carbon and fluorine bonded together in strong carbon–fluorine bonds. Fluoroalkanes that contain only single bonds are more chemically and thermally stable than alkanes...
based polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
with multiple strong carbon–fluorine bond
Carbon–fluorine bond
The carbon–fluorine bond is a bond between carbon and fluorine that is a component of all organofluorine compounds. It is the strongest single bond in organic chemistry—and relatively short—due to its partial ionic character. The bond also strengthens and shortens as more fluorines are...
s. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.
History
Fluoropolymers were accidentally discovered in 1938 by Dr. Roy J. Plunkett when he was polymerizing tetrafluoroethyleneTetrafluoroethylene
Tetrafluoroethylene is a chemical compound with the formula C2F4. It is the simplest alkene fluorocarbon. This gaseous species is used primarily in the industrial preparation of polymers.-Properties:...
to form polytetrafluoroethylene
Polytetrafluoroethylene
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that finds numerous applications. PTFE is most well known by the DuPont brand name Teflon....
(PTFE, more commonly known by the DuPont trademark Teflon).
Properties
Fluoropolymers share the properties of fluorocarbons in that they are not as susceptible to the van der Waals forceVan der Waals force
In physical chemistry, the van der Waals force , named after Dutch scientist Johannes Diderik van der Waals, is the sum of the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules other than those due to covalent bonds or to the electrostatic interaction of ions with one another or with neutral...
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
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
. Fluoropolymers may be mechanically characterized as thermosets or thermoplastic
Thermoplastic
Thermoplastic, also known as a thermosoftening plastic, is a polymer that turns to a liquid when heated and freezes to a very glassy state when cooled sufficiently...
s. Fluoropolymers can be homopolymers or copolymers.
Examples of monomers used to prepare fluoropolymers
- EthyleneEthyleneEthylene is a gaseous organic compound with the formula . It is the simplest alkene . Because it contains a carbon-carbon double bond, ethylene is classified as an unsaturated hydrocarbon. Ethylene is widely used in industry and is also a plant hormone...
(E) - PropylenePropylenePropene, also known as propylene or methylethylene, is an unsaturated organic compound having the chemical formula C3H6. It has one double bond, and is the second simplest member of the alkene class of hydrocarbons, and it is also second in natural abundance.-Properties:At room temperature and...
(P) - Vinyl fluorideVinyl fluorideVinyl fluoride is an organic halide with the chemical formula C2H3F. It is a colorless gas with a faint etherlike odor. It is used as the monomeric precursor to the fluoropolymer polyvinylfluoride.-Production:...
(VF1) - Vinylidene fluoride (VDF or VF2)
- TetrafluoroethyleneTetrafluoroethyleneTetrafluoroethylene is a chemical compound with the formula C2F4. It is the simplest alkene fluorocarbon. This gaseous species is used primarily in the industrial preparation of polymers.-Properties:...
(TFE) - HexafluoropropyleneHexafluoropropyleneHexafluoropropylene is a compound with the formula C3F6. It is a fluorocarbon alkene in which all of the hydrogen atoms in propylene are replaced by fluorine atoms. It is used as a chemical intermediate....
(HFP) - Perfluoropropylvinylether (PPVE)
- Perfluoromethylvinylether (PMVE)
- ChlorotrifluoroethyleneChlorotrifluoroethyleneCTFE, or chlorotrifluoroethylene is a chlorofluorocarbon with chemical formula CF2CClF. It is commonly used as a refrigerant in cryogenic applications. CTFE can be polymerised to produce the plastic ECTFE....
(CTFE)
Examples of fluoropolymers
| Fluoropolymer | Trade names | Monomers | Melting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVF (polyvinylfluoride) | Tedlar | VF1 | 200°C |
| PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) | Kynar Solef Hylar | VF2 | 175°C |
| PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene Polytetrafluoroethylene is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that finds numerous applications. PTFE is most well known by the DuPont brand name Teflon.... (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 Polychlorotrifluoroethylene Polychlorotrifluoroethylene is a fluoropolymer with the molecular formula n. It is chemically related to PTFE.... ) |
CTFE | ||
| PFA Perfluoroalkoxy Perfluoroalkoxy or PFA is a type of fluoropolymer with properties similar to polytetrafluoroethylene . It differs from the PTFE resins in that it is melt-processable using conventional injection molding and screw extrusion techniques.... (perfluoroalkoxy polymer) |
Sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon. Hyflon | PPVE + TFE | 305°C |
| FEP Fluorinated ethylene propylene Fluorinated ethylene propylene or FEP is a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene. It differs from the PTFE resins in that it is melt-processible using conventional injection molding and screw extrusion techniques. Fluorinated ethylene propylene was invented by DuPont and is sold... (fluorinated ethylene-propylene) |
Sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon | HFP + TFE | 260°C |
| ETFE ETFE Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, ETFE, a fluorine based plastic, was designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range. ETFE is a polymer, and its systematic name is poly. ETFE has a very high melting temperature, excellent chemical, electrical and high energy... (polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene) |
Tefzel, Fluon | TFE + E | 265°C |
| ECTFE ECTFE ECTFE is a fluorocarbon-based polymer , a kind of plastic. It is marketed under the brand name Halar ECTFE by Solvay Solexis... (polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene) |
Halar | CTFE + E | |
| FFPM/FFKM (Perfluorinated Elastomer [Perfluoroelastomer]) | Kalrez. Tecnoflon | ||
| FPM/FKM (Fluorocarbon [Chlorotrifluoroethylenevinylidene fluoride]) | Viton Viton Viton is a brand of synthetic rubber and fluoropolymer elastomer commonly used in O-rings and other molded or extruded goods. The name is a registered trademark of DuPont Performance Elastomers L.L.C..... , Tecnoflon FKM |
||
| PFPE (Perfluoropolyether) | Sold by DuPont under the tradename Krytox. Fomblin Galden | ||
| Nafion Nafion Nafion is a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer discovered in the late 1960s by Walther Grot of DuPont. It is the first of a class of synthetic polymers with ionic properties which are called ionomers... |
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| Perfluoropolyoxetane |