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Fluoropolymer
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>In 1938, <a href="/facts/Polytetrafluoroethylene/jesBNXKq">polytetrafluoroethylene</a> (<a href="/facts/DuPont/kCUfkJzE">DuPont</a> brand name Teflon) was discovered by accident by a recently hired DuPont Ph.D., <a href="/facts/Roy_J._Plunkett/5QGTeuW7">Roy J. Plunkett</a>. While working with <a href="/facts/Tetrafluoroethylene/3lzA1S3E">tetrafluoroethylene</a> gas to develop refrigerants, 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 <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymer</a>. Tests showed the substance was resistant to corrosion from most acids, bases and solvents and had better high temperature stability than any other plastic. By early 1941, a crash program was making substantial quantities of PTFE for the Manhattan Project.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="properties">Properties</h2> <p>Fluoropolymers share the properties of fluorocarbons in that they are not as susceptible to the <a href="/facts/Van_der_Waals_force/jyGU8Vh9">van der Waals force</a> as <a href="/facts/Hydrocarbons/Dcg95Ju5">hydrocarbons</a>. 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 <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compound</a>. Fluoropolymers may be mechanically characterized as <a href="/facts/Thermoset/EagnsydT">thermosets</a> or <a href="/facts/Thermoplastic/5KJB8dwN">thermoplastics</a>. Fluoropolymers can be homopolymers or Copolymer. </p> <h2 id="examples-of-monomers-used-to-prepare-fluoropolymers">Examples of monomers used to prepare fluoropolymers</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Perfluorocycloalkene/8waXElv7">Perfluorocycloalkene</a> (PFCA)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Ethylene/QMNBYLYn">Ethylene</a> (Ethene, E)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Vinyl_fluoride/b2Qcu6u2">Vinyl fluoride</a> (fluoroethylene) (VF1)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Vinylidene_fluoride/xoyVF5Pn">Vinylidene fluoride</a> (1,1-difluoroethylene) (VDF or VF2)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Tetrafluoroethylene/3lzA1S3E">Tetrafluoroethylene</a> (TFE)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Chlorotrifluoroethylene/rUKNaqBv">Chlorotrifluoroethylene</a> (CTFE)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Propylene/5eLDmPvm">Propylene</a> (Propene, P)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Hexafluoropropylene/SQ6RKsEz">Hexafluoropropylene</a> (HFP)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Perfluoroether/ND0t19t3">Perfluoropropylvinylether</a> (PPVE)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Perfluoroether/ND0t19t3">Perfluoromethylvinylether</a> (PMVE)</li></ul> <h2 id="examples-of-fluoropolymers">Examples of fluoropolymers</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Fluoropolymer</th><th>Trade names</th><th>Monomers</th><th>Melting point (°C)</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Polyvinyl_fluoride/j3Df2rnH">PVF</a> (polyvinylfluoride)</td><td>Tedlar<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></td><td>VF1</td><td>200<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/PVDF/9LXbA0M4">PVDF</a> (polyvinylidene fluoride)</td><td>Kynar<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> Solef<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Hylar<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></td><td>VF2</td><td>175</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Polytetrafluoroethylene/jesBNXKq">PTFE</a> (polytetrafluoroethylene)</td><td>Sold by <a href="/facts/AGC_Inc./YKGMtVJL">AGC</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Daikin/NJh1wnSR">Daikin</a> under the tradename Polyflon</td><td>TFE</td><td>327</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Polychlorotrifluoroethylene/tw7UJfcB">PCTFE</a> (polychlorotrifluoroethylene)</td><td>Kel-F (<a href="/facts/3M/lNDcCRkX">3M</a>), Neoflon (<a href="/facts/Daikin/NJh1wnSR">Daikin</a>), Voltalef <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> (<a href="/facts/Arkema/3Kr4g6xY">Arkema</a>)</td><td>CTFE</td><td>220<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Perfluoroalkoxy/XwfXdb3B">PFA</a>, MFA<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> (perfluoroalkoxy polymer)</td><td>Sold by AGC under the tradename Fluon PFA. Sold by DuPont under the tradename <a href="/facts/Perfluoroalkoxy_alkane/XwfXdb3B">Teflon-PFA</a>. Sold by Solvay Specialty Polymers under the tradename Hyflon.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> Neoflon (<a href="/facts/Daikin/NJh1wnSR">Daikin</a>)</td><td>PPVE + TFE</td><td>305</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Fluorinated_ethylene_propylene/L3X77jlh">FEP</a> (fluorinated ethylene-propylene)</td><td>Sold by <a href="/facts/DuPont/kCUfkJzE">DuPont</a> under the tradename <a href="/facts/Teflon_FEP/L3X77jlh">Teflon FEP</a>. Also known as Neoflon (<a href="/facts/Daikin/NJh1wnSR">Daikin</a>) and Hyflon</td><td>HFP + TFE</td><td>260</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/ETFE/CpH0K3oo">ETFE</a> (polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene)</td><td>Sold by AGC under the trade name of Fluon<a href="/facts/ETFE/CpH0K3oo">ETFE</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Tefzel/CpH0K3oo">Tefzel</a>,;<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> sold by <a href="/facts/Daikin/NJh1wnSR">Daikin</a> under the tradename Neoflon</td><td>TFE + E</td><td>265</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/ECTFE/GJp9UlbW">ECTFE</a> (polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene)</td><td><a href="/facts/ECTFE/GJp9UlbW">Halar</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> sold by Solvay Specialty Polymers</td><td>CTFE + E</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FFPM/<a href="/facts/FFKM/4rpEQwTW">FFKM</a> (Perfluorinated Elastomer [Perfluoroelastomer])</td><td>Kalrez.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> Tecnoflon PFR<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> DAI-EL (<a href="/facts/Daikin/NJh1wnSR">Daikin</a>)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FPM/FKM (Fluoroelastomer [Vinylidene Fluoride based copolymers])</td><td><a href="/facts/Viton/JzFbjeby">Viton</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> Tecnoflon FKM, DAI-EL (<a href="/facts/Daikin/NJh1wnSR">Daikin</a>), Fluonox (Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FEPM (Fluoroelastomer [Tetrafluoroethylene-Propylene])</td><td>Sold by AGC under the trade name of AFLAS,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></td><td>TFE + P</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PFPE (Perfluoropolyether)</td><td>Sold by DuPont under the tradename <a href="/facts/Krytox/oGLsk7T3">Krytox</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> Sold by Solvay Specialty Polymers S.p.A. as Fomblin and Galden</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PFSA (Perfluorosulfonic acid)</td><td><a href="/facts/Nafion/Lnhpg5WM">Nafion</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Perfluoropolyoxetane</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="typical-properties">Typical properties</h2> <p><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Property</th><th>Method No.</th><th>Units</th><th>PTFE</th><th>FEP</th><th>PFA</th><th>ETFE</th><th>ECTFE</th><th>PCTFE</th><th>PVDF</th></tr><tr><td>Specific gravity</td><td>D792</td><td>-</td><td>2.17</td><td>2.15</td><td>2.15</td><td>1.7</td><td>1.7</td><td>2.15</td><td>1.78</td></tr><tr><td>Yield strength</td><td>D638</td><td>MPa</td><td>10</td><td>12</td><td>15.5</td><td>24</td><td>31</td><td>40</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>Yield strength</td><td>D638</td><td>PSI</td><td>1,450</td><td>1,740</td><td>2,250</td><td>3,480</td><td>4,500</td><td>5,800</td><td>6,670</td></tr><tr><td>Elongation</td><td></td><td>%</td><td>200-500</td><td>250-350</td><td>300</td><td>200-500</td><td>200-300</td><td>80-250</td><td>20-150</td></tr><tr><td>Tensile modulus</td><td>D638</td><td>MPa</td><td>600</td><td>500</td><td>700</td><td>1500</td><td>1655</td><td>1500</td><td>2400</td></tr><tr><td>Tensile modulus</td><td>D638</td><td>ksi</td><td>87</td><td>72.5</td><td>101.5</td><td>217.5</td><td>240</td><td>218</td><td>348</td></tr><tr><td>Hardness</td><td>D2240</td><td>Shore D</td><td>60</td><td>57</td><td>62</td><td>75</td><td>75</td><td>90</td><td>79</td></tr><tr><td>HDT, @ 66 PSI</td><td>D648</td><td>°F</td><td>250</td><td>158</td><td>164</td><td>219</td><td>240</td><td>248</td><td>300</td></tr><tr><td>HDT, @ 264 PSI</td><td>D648</td><td>°F</td><td>122</td><td>129</td><td>118</td><td>160</td><td>169</td><td>-</td><td>239</td></tr><tr><td>Limiting oxygen index</td><td>D2863</td><td>%</td><td>>95</td><td>>95</td><td>>95</td><td>30-36</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dielectric constant</td><td>D150</td><td>1 MHz</td><td>2.1</td><td>2.1</td><td>2.1</td><td>2.6</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Organofluorine/EwWmHflJ">Organofluorine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Organohalogen/FTmWVdPT">Organohalogen</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Fluorosurfactant/KcNTVbvS">Fluorosurfactant</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Perfluorocycloalkene/8waXElv7">Perfluorocycloalkene</a> (PFCA)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Per-_and_polyfluoroalkyl_substances/KcNTVbvS">Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances</a> (PFAS)</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Iddon, Brian (1985). The Magic of Chemistry. Eastleigh:BDH. pp. 10–11. ISBN 0-9500439-6-6. <a href="0-9500439-6-6" target="_blank">0-9500439-6-6</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Kirsch, Peer (2004). "Fluorine". Modern Fluoroorganic Chemistry: Synthesis, reactivity, applications. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 3–10. ISBN 978-3-527-30691-6. Retrieved 2011-05-07. <a href="978-3-527-30691-6" target="_blank">978-3-527-30691-6</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>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. <a href="0-521-32767-9" target="_blank">0-521-32767-9</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>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. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621566" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621566</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Tedlar is a registered trademark of DuPont <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Christopher C. Ibeh (2011). THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS Properties, Manufacturing Methods, and Applications. CRC Press. pp. 491–497. ISBN 978-1-4200-9383-4. <a href="978-1-4200-9383-4" target="_blank">978-1-4200-9383-4</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Kynar is a registered trademark of Arkema, Inc. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Solef is a registered trademark of Solvay specialty polymers S.p.A. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Hylar is a registered trademark of Solvay specialty polymers S.p.A. <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"PCTFE plastic (polytetrafluoroethylene) - SPN technical plastic manufacturer". DEMGY Plastiques SPN. Retrieved 2022-03-07. <a href="https://www.plastiques-nobles.com/en/pctfe-ptfce-polychlorotrifluoroethylene/" target="_blank">https://www.plastiques-nobles.com/en/pctfe-ptfce-polychlorotrifluoroethylene/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Christopher C. Ibeh (2011). THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS Properties, Manufacturing Methods, and Applications. CRC Press. pp. 491–497. ISBN 978-1-4200-9383-4. <a href="978-1-4200-9383-4" target="_blank">978-1-4200-9383-4</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Typical Properties of Fluropolymers". Fluoropolymer. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-09. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131445/http://fluorotherm.com/Properties-Physical.asp" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131445/http://fluorotherm.com/Properties-Physical.asp</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Hyflon is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Fluon is a registered trademark of Asahi Glass Company <a href="/wiki/Asahi_Glass_Company" target="_blank">/wiki/Asahi_Glass_Company</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Tefzel is a registered trademark of DuPont <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Halar is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A. <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Kalrez is a registered trademark of DuPont <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Tecnoflon is a registered trademark of Solvay Solexis S.p.A. <a href="/wiki/Solvay_Solexis" target="_blank">/wiki/Solvay_Solexis</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Viton is a registered trademark of DuPont <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>AFLAS is a registered trademark of AGC(Asahi Glass Co, Ltd.) <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Krytox is a registered trademark of DuPont <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>"Typical Properties of Fluoropolymers". Fluorotherm. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-09. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131445/http://fluorotherm.com/Properties-Physical.asp" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131445/http://fluorotherm.com/Properties-Physical.asp</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>