Fluoropolymers were discovered accidentally by Plunkett in 1938. He was working on freon and accidentally polymerised tetrafluoroethylene. The result was polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), more commonly known as Teflon.

PTFE is inert to virtually all chemicals and is considered to be the most slippery material in existence - it has the lowest coefficient of friction of any known solid material. These properties have made it one of the most valuable and versatile technologies ever invented, contributing to significant advancements in areas such as aerospace, communications, electronics, industrial processes and architecture. As Teflon, it has become a familiar household name, recognised worldwide for the superior non-stick properties associated with its use as a coating on cookware and as a soil and stain repellent for fabrics and textile products.

The aim of this review is to acquaint the readers with the science and technology of fluoroplastics that represent a unique group of plastics used in many dynamic industries, including automotive, aerospace, wire and cable insulations, oil and gas recovery, semiconductor manufacture and others.

The scope of this review includes basic chemistry, properties (attributes and limitations), processing methods and equipment, applications, recent developments and trends.

This Rapra Review Report comprises a concise, expert review, supported by an extensive bibliography compiled from the Polymer Library on the topic of fluoroplastics. This bibliography provides useful additional information on this topical field.

About the author...
Jiri George Drobny, educated at the Technical University in Prague in Chemical Engineering (processing of plastics and elastomers) at the Institute of Polymer Science of the University of Akron (physics and engineering of polymers), and at Shippensburg State University (management and finance). His career spans over 35 years in the rubber and plastics processing industry in Europe, the US and Canada, mainly in R&D with senior and executive responsibilities. Currently, he is President of Drobny Polymer Associates an international consulting firm specialising in fluoropolymer science and technology, radiation processing and elastomer technology. Active as an educator, lecturer, author, and as technical and scientific translator. He is member of the Society of Plastic Engineers, American Chemical Society and SAMPE and is listed in Whos Who in America, Whos Who in Plastics and Polymers, Whos Who in Science and Engineering, Whos Who in the East. He resides in New Hampshire.

CONTENTS

Aim and the Scope

1 Introduction

2 Basic Chemistry of Fluoroplastics

3 Structure - Property Correlations
3.1 General
3.2 Mechanical Properties
3.3 Optical Properties

4 Properties of Individual Commercial Fluoroplastics
4.1 Polytetrafluoroethylene
4.1.1 Crystallinity and Melting Behaviour
4.1.2 Mechanical Properties
4.1.3 Surface Properties
4.1.4 Absorption and Permeation
4.1.5 Electrical Properties
4.1.6 Thermal Stability
4.1.7 Chemical Resistance
4.1.8 Flame Resistance
4.1.9 Radiation Resistance
4.1.10 Modified PTFE
4.1.11 Forms of PTFE
4.2 Copolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene and Hexafluoropropylene (FEP)
4.2.1 Mechanical Properties
4.2.2 Electrical Properties
4.2.3 Chemical Properties
4.2.4 Optical Properties
4.2.5 Thermal Stability
4.2.6 Radiation Resistance
4.2.7 Other Properties
4.2.8 Forms of FEP
4.3 Copolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene and Perfluoroalkylethers (PFA and MFA)
4.3.1 Physical and Mechanical Properties
4.3.2 Electrical Properties
4.3.3 Chemical Properties
4.3.4 Optical Properties
4.3.5 Other Properties
4.3.6 Forms of PFA and MFA
4.4 Copolymers of Ethylene and Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE)
4.4.1 Physical and Mechanical Properties
4.4.2 Electrical Properties
4.4.3 Chemical Properties
4.4.4 Thermal Stability
4.4.5 Radiation Resistance
4.4.6 Flame Resistance
4.4.7 Forms of ETFE
4.5 Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)
4.5.1 Physical and Mechanical Properties
4.5.2 Electrical Properties
4.5.3 Chemical Properties
4.5.4 Forms of PVDF
4.6 Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)
4.6.1 Physical and Mechanical Properties
4.6.2 Chemical Properties
4.6.3 Optical Properties
4.6.4 Thermal Properties
4.7 Copolymer of Ethylene and Chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE)
4.7.1 Properties of ECTFE
4.8 Terpolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene, Hexafluoropropylene and Vinylidene Fluoride (THV Fluoroplastic)
4.8.1 Properties
4.8.2 Forms of THV Fluoroplastics
4.9 Polyvinyl Fluoride (PVF)
4.9.1 General Properties
4.9.2 Chemical Properties
4.9.3 Optical Properties
4.9.4 Weathering Resistance
4.9.5 Electrical Properties
4.9.6 Thermal Stability
4.10 Terpolymer of Hexafluoropropylene, Tetrafluoroethylene and Ethylene (HTE Fluoroplastic)
4.10.1 Properties of HTE Fluoroplastic

5 Processing of Fluoroplastics
5.1 Processing of PTFE
5.1.1 Processing of Granular Resins
5.1.2 Processing of Fine Powders
5.1.3 Processing of PTFE Aqueous Dispersions
5.2 Processing of Melt Processible Fluoroplastics

6 Applications for Commercial Fluoroplastics
6.1 Applications for PTFE
6.2 Applications for Melt Processable Fluoroplastics
6.2.1 Applications for FEP
6.2.2 Applications for PFA and MFA
6.2.3 Applications for ETFE
6.2.4 Applications for PVDF
6.2.5 Applications for PCTFE
6.2.6 Applications for ECTFE
6.2.7 Applications for THV Fluoroplastics
6.2.8 Applications for PVF
6.2.9 Applications for HTE Fluoroplastics

7 Current Trends and New Developments
7.1 Applications
7.2Polymerisation
7.3 Processing
7.4 Other

Bibliography
Books
Magazines
Producers and Trade Names of Fluoroplastics
Recent Patents

References

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Abstracts from the Polymer Library Database
Subject Index
Company Index