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Fluorinated Polymers

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) [9002-84-0], more commonly known as Teflon® (Dupont Co., Inc.), is a perfluorinated straight-chain high molecular weight polymer. It is unique in the plastics industry because of its chemical inertness, heat resistance, excellent electrical insulation properties, and low coefficient of friction over a wide temperature range. Polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene monomer gives a perfluorinated, straight-chain high polymer with the formula –(CF∨2 –CF∨2 )∨n –. The white to translucent solid polymer has an extremely high molecular weight, in the 10∧6 –10∧7 range, and consequently has a viscosity in the range of 1–10 GPa•s (10∧10 –10∧11 P) at 380° C. It is a highly crystalline polymer and has a crystalline melting point. Its high thermal stability results from the strong carbon–fluorine bond and making PTFE a very useful high temperature polymer.

Because of its chemical inertness and high molecular weight, PTFE melt does not flow and cannot be fabricated by conventional techniques. The suspension-polymerized PTFE polymer (referred to as granular PTFE ) is usually fabricated by modified powder metallurgy techniques. Granular resins are manufactured in a wide variety of grades to obtain a different balance between powder flows and end use properties. Applications of granular PTFE resins include gaskets, packing, seals, electronic components, bearings, sheets, rods, tubing, tape, molded shapes for nonadhesive applications, and wire wrapping.

Emulsion-polymerized PTFE (referred to as dispersion PTFE) behaves entirely differently from granular PTFE. Coagulated dispersions are processed by a cold-extrusion process. Stabilized PTFE dispersions, made by emulsion polymerization, are usually processed according to latex processing techniques. Uses of dispersion PTFE include impregnation, coatings, packing, films, and bearings.

Fluoryx’s Fluorinated Polymers products are listed below: