Introduction to Fluoropolymers - FLUOROCONSULTANTS

1 4 Introduction to FluoropolymersSina Ebnesajjad, PhDFluoroConsultants Group, IntroductionFluoropolymer is usually olefinic polymer which consistsof partially or fully fluorinated olefinic monomers such asvinylidene fluoride (CH2 CF2) and tetrafluoroethylene(TFE) (CF2 CF2). These polymers have been covered ingreat detail in a number of references (see General Refer-ences). More specialty fluorinated polymers include per-fluoroethers, fluoroacrylates, and fluorosilicones which areused in significantly smaller volume than olefinic fluo-ropolymers.

2 These Fluoropolymers and others are covered indetail elsewhere[1,2].Commercial Fluoropolymers include homopolymers andcopolymers. Homopolymers contain 99% or more by weightone monomer and 1% or less by weight of another monomeraccording to the convention by American Society for TestingMaterials (ASTM). Copolymers contain more than 1% ormore by weight of one or more comonomers. The majorcommercial Fluoropolymers are based on three monomers:TFE, vinylidene fluoride (VF2), and to a lesser extentchlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE).

3 Examples of comonomersinclude perfluoromethyl vinyl ether (PMVE), perfluoroethylvinyl ether (PEVE), perfluoropropyl vinyl ether (PPVE),hexafluoropropylene (HFP), CTFE, perfluorobutyl ethylene(PFBE), and exotic monomers such as 2,2-bistri-fluoromethyl-4,5-difluoro-1, Fluoropolymers reviewed in this chapter includepolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy polymer(PFA), fluorinated ethyleneepropylene polymer (FEP), eth-yleneetetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), ethyleneechlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE), polychlorotri-fluoroethylene (PCTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF),and polyvinyl fluoride (PVF).

4 Classification, preparation,properties, fabrication, safety considerations, and economicsof Fluoropolymers are reviewed. Monomer synthesis andproperties have also been good rule of thumb to remember is that increasing thefluorine content of a polymer molecule increases its chemicaland solvent resistance, flame resistance, and photostability;improves its electrical properties such as lower dielectricconstant; lowers coefficient of friction; raises melting point;increases its thermal stability; and weakens its mechanicalproperties.

5 Solubility of polymers in solvents usuallydecreases by increasing the fluorine content of the fluoropolymer ClassificationThe serendipitous discovery of PTFE in 1938 by RoyPlunkett of DuPont Company[3] began the era of fluo-ropolymers. PTFE has found thousands of applicationsbecause of its unique properties. Various fluoroplastics(Figure ) have been developed since the discovery ofPTFE. A number of companies produce these plastics aroundthe world (Tables and ). Fluoropolymers are dividedinto two classes of perfluorinated and partially fluorinatedpolymers.

6 Perfluorinated Fluoropolymers are homopolymersand copolymers of TFE. Some of the comonomers maycontain a small amount of elements other than C or example, PFA is a copolymer of TFE and per-fluoroalkyl vinyl ether that contains oxygen. Rfis a per-fluoroalkyl group of (1937)ETFE(1972)FEP(1960)PFA (1973)PVF (1949)PVDF (1948)AF(1985)ECTFE(1970)PerfluorinatedP artially FluorinatedFirst melt-processible perfluoropolymerProperties similar to PTFEPTFE(1938)Figure of fluoropolymer development over time.(PCTFE polychlorotrifluoroethylene, PVDF polyvinylidenefluoride, PVF polyvinyl fluoride, FEP fluorinated ethyle-neepropylene polymer, ECTFE ethylene chlorotrifluoro-ethylene polymer, ETFE ethyleneetetrafluoroethylenepolymer, PFA perfluoroalkoxy polymer, AF amorphousfluoropolymers).

7 Applied Plastics Engineering HandbookCopyright 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights fluorinated Fluoropolymers contain hydrogen (H)or other atoms such as chlorine, in addition to fluorine andcarbon. The most significant are homopolymers and copoly-mers of PVDF. There are also copolymers and homopoly-mers of chlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), although somehave elastomeric properties. Other significant fluoroplasticsinclude ETFE, ECTFE, and Polymer Development HistoryPTFE cannot be fabricated by melt-processing techniquesbecause of its high viscosity (1010e1012poise at 380 C).

8 Melt-processible Fluoropolymers have been developed bycopolymerization of TFE. FEP, a copolymer of TFE and HFP,has a lower maximum continuous use temperature than PTFE(200 C vs. 260 C) because of the deterioration ofmechanical properties. PFA, a copolymer of TFE with PPVEor PEVE, offers thermal stability, melt-processibility andmaximum continuous use temperatured260 C. Both FEPand PFA are considered of ethylene with tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE)and chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) are mechanicallystronger than perfluoropolymers, accompanied with trade-offs of reduction in their chemical resistance and continuoususe temperature and an increase in the coefficient of copolymers of TFE are soluble in specialhalogenated solvents and can be applied to surfaces asa polymer solution to form thin coatings.

9 The dried coating isas resistant to almost as many chemicals as PTFE.[4] Monomer Synthesis of TetrafluoroethyleneThe first reliable and complete description of TFEsynthesis was published in 1933 by Ruff and Bretschneider[5] in which they prepared TFE (CF2 CF2, CAS number116-14-3) from decomposition of tetrafluoromethane in anelectric arc. TFE was obtained by bromination and separationof the dibromide (CF2 BreCF2Br) from the other reactionproducts. Dehalogenation with zinc was the next step forobtaining pure TFE. Commercially significant techniques forTFE preparation list fluorspar (CaF2), hydrofluoric acid, andchloroform as the starting ingredients[6e13], as shown inthe reaction sequence inFigure other compounds produced are HFP and a smallamount of highly toxic [14]and others[15]have provided completedescriptions of the preparation of TFE.

10 The overall yield ofTFE production depends on the pyrolysis reaction. Theproducts of pyrolysis are cooled, scrubbed with a dilute basicsolution to remove HCl, and dried. The resulting gas isHF preparation:Chloroform preparation:Chlorodifluoromethane preparation:TFE synthesis:CaF2 + H2SO4CH4 + 3Cl2 CHCl3 + 2HF2 CHClF2 (pyrolysis)CF2=CF2 + 2 HCl (SbF3 catalyst)CHClF2 + 2 HClCHCl3 + 3 HCl2HF + CaSO4 Figure reactions of producers of fluoropolymersCompanyProductDuPontPTFE, FEP, PFA, ETFE,PVFD aikinPTFE, FEP, PFA, ETFE,PVDF, PCTFE, EeFEPA rkemaPVDF, PCTFEA sahi GlassPTFE, PFA, ETFES olvay SolexisPTFE, PVDF, ECTFE,PFA/MFAD yneonPTFE, FEP, PFA, THV,PVDFC onstructive BureauRussiaPTFE, small amounts ofother PolandPTFEK urehaPVDFH oneywellPCTFET able producers of fluoropolymersCompanyProductGujarat Fluorochemicals FluoropolymerPTFES hanghai 3 FPTFE, PVDF.