Fluoropolymers
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A fluoropolymer is a polymer that contains atoms of fluorine. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.

Fluoropolymers were discovered serendipitously in 1938 by Dr. Roy J. Plunkett. He was working on freon (for the DuPont corporation) and accidentally polymerized tetrafluoroethylene. The result was PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), more commonly known as Teflon. This material had the lowest coefficient of friction of any known solid and was inert to virtually all chemicals.

Examples of fluoropolymers:

• PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon
• PFA (perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin), sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon
• FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene), sold by DuPont under the tradename Teflon
• ETFE polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene(Tefzel^[1]), (Fluon^[2] )
• PVF polyvinylfluoride Tedlar^[3]
• ECTFE polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene(Halar^[4])
• PVDF polyvinylidene fluoride (Kynar^[5])
• PCTFE (Kel-F, CTFE) polychlorotrifluoroethylene
• FFKM (Kalrez^[6], Tecnoflon^[7] FFKM)
• FPM/FKM (Viton^[8], Tecnoflon)
• PFPE Perfluoropolyether (Fomblin^[9])(Galden^[10])

Fluoropolymers may be mechanically characterized as thermosets or thermoplastics. They are often applied to manufactured metal parts by electrostatic powder coating, or attached in large sheets with epoxy to line the interior of large metal and non-metal containers.

See also

• Perfluorocarbon (PFC)

References

External links

• Chemical Resistance of Fluoropolymers
• Uses and Safety
• P.A.T.I. Spa Fluroplastic Films and Membranes Extrusion Specialist
• Polymer Coating Specialists Surface Engineering Ltd. Added April 19, 2008

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