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 most well 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. [citation needed]
Examples of monomers used to prepare fluoropolymers
- 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
The global demand on fluoropolymers was estimated at approximately 7.25 billion USD 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
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 (Fluorocarbon [Chlorotrifluoroethylenevinylidene fluoride]) | Viton,[19] Tecnoflon FKM, DAI-EL (Daikin) | ||
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
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
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Market Report: Global Fluoropolymer Market". Acmite Market Intelligence.
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- ^ "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. 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. Retrieved 2014-04-09.