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[edit]
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[edit]
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.[citation needed]
Examples of monomers used to prepare fluoropolymers[edit]
- Perfluorocycloalkene (PFCA)
- Ethylene (Ethane) (E)
- Vinyl fluoride (fluoroethylene) (VF1)
- Vinylidene fluoride (1,1-difluoroethylene) (VDF or VF2)
- Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)
- Chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE)
- Propylene (P)
- Hexafluoropropylene (HFP)
- Perfluoropropylvinylether (PPVE)
- Perfluoromethylvinylether (PMVE)
Current market and forecast[edit]
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[edit]
| Fluoropolymer | Trade names | Monomers | Melting point (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVF (polyvinylfluoride) | Tedlar[7] | VF1 | 200[8] |
| PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) | Kynar[9] Solef[10] Hylar[11] | VF2 | 175 |
| 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 Polyflon | TFE | 327 |
| PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene) | Kel-F (3M), Neoflon (Daikin) | CTFE | 220[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 + TFE | 305 |
| FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene) | Sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon FEP. Also known as Neoflon (Daikin) and Hyflon | HFP + TFE | 260 |
| ETFE (polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene) | Sold by AGC under the trade name of FluonETFE[14] Tefzel,;[15] sold by Daikin under the tradename Neoflon | TFE + E | 265 |
| ECTFE (polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene) | Halar[16] sold by Solvay Specialty Polymers | CTFE + 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[edit]
[22]
| Property | Method No. | Units | PTFE | FEP | PFA | ETFE | ECTFE | PCTFE | PVDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific gravity | D792 | - | 2.17 | 2.15 | 2.15 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.15 | 1.78 |
| Yield strength | D638 | MPa | 10 | 12 | 15.5 | 24 | 31 | 40 | 46 |
| Yield strength | D638 | PSI | 1,450 | 1,740 | 2,250 | 3,480 | 4,500 | 5,800 | 6,670 |
| Elongation | % | 200-500 | 250-350 | 300 | 200-500 | 200-300 | 80-250 | 20-150 | |
| Tensile modulus | D638 | MPa | 600 | 500 | 700 | 1500 | 1655 | 1500 | 2400 |
| Tensile modulus | D638 | ksi | 87 | 72.5 | 101.5 | 217.5 | 240 | 218 | 348 |
| Hardness | D2240 | Shore D | 60 | 57 | 62 | 75 | 75 | 90 | 79 |
| HDT, @ 66 PSI | D648 | °F | 250 | 158 | 164 | 219 | 240 | 248 | 300 |
| HDT, @ 264 PSI | D648 | °F | 122 | 129 | 118 | 160 | 169 | - | 239 |
| Limiting oxygen index | D2863 | % | >95 | >95 | >95 | 30-36 | |||
| Dielectric constant | D150 | 1 MHz | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.6 |
See also[edit]
- Organofluorine
- Organohalogen
- Fluorosurfactant
- Perfluorocycloalkene (PFCA)
References[edit]
- ^ Iddon, Brian (1985). The Magic of Chemistry. Eastleigh:BDH. pp. 10–11. ISBN 0-9500439-6-6.
- ^ Kirsch, Peer (2004). "Fluorine". Modern Fluoroorganic Chemistry: Synthesis, reactivity, applications. pp. 3–10. ISBN 978-3-527-30691-6. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Market Report: Global Fluoropolymer Market". Acmite Market Intelligence. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ^ "21 Fluoropolymer Facts for Engineers". AFT Fluorotec. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
- ^ Tedlar is a registered trademark of DuPont
- ^ a b Christopher C. Ibeh (2011). THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS Properties, Manufacturing Methods, and Applications. CRC Press. pp. 491–497. ISBN 978-1-4200-9383-4.
- ^ Kynar is a registered trademark of Arkema, Inc.
- ^ Solef is a registered trademark of Solvay specialty polymers S.p.A.
- ^ Hylar is a registered trademark of Solvay specialty polymers S.p.A.
- ^ "Typical Properties of Fluropolymers". Fluoropolymer. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
- ^ Hyflon is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
- ^ Fluon is a registered trademark of Asahi Glass Company
- ^ Tefzel is a registered trademark of DuPont
- ^ Halar is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
- ^ Kalrez is a registered trademark of DuPont
- ^ Tecnoflon is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
- ^ Viton is a registered trademark of DuPont
- ^ AFLAS is a registered trademark of AGC(Asahi Glass Co, Ltd.)
- ^ Krytox is a registered trademark of DuPont
- ^ "Typical Properties of Fluoropolymers". Fluorotherm. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
