Fluoropolymer

Fluoropolymer

A fluoropolymer is a fluorocarbon-based polymer featuring multiple carbon–fluorine bonds. It is characterized by chemical resistance to acids, solvents, and bases. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or Teflon® is the most commonly known fluoropolymer.

Fluoropolymer Properties

  • High resistance to solvents, acids, and bases

  • Fluoropolymers share the properties of fluorocarbons in that they are not as susceptible to the van der Waals force as hydrocarbons.

  • This contributes to their non-stick and friction reducing properties.

  • Stable due to the stability multiple carbon–fluorine bonds add to a chemical compound.

  • Fluoropolymers may be mechanically characterized as thermosets or thermoplastics.

Types of Commercial Fluoropolymers

PVF (polyvinylfluoride) Tedlar™

PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) Kynar™ Solef™ Hylar™

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) Teflon™ Fluon PTFE™ Algoflon Hyflon™ Polymist™ Polyflon™

PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene) Kel-F™ Neoflon™ Voltalef™

PFA, MFA (perfluoroalkoxy polymer) Fluon™ PFA™ Teflon™ Hyflon Neoflon™

FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene)

ETFE (polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene)

ECTFE (polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene)

FFPM/FFKM (Perfluorinated Elastomer [Perfluoroelastomer])

FPM/FKM (Fluoroelastomer [Vinylidene Fluoride based copolymers])

FEPM (Fluoroelastomer [Tetrafluoroethylene-Propylene])

PFPE (Perfluoropolyether)

PFSA (Perfluorosulfonic acid)

Perfluoropolyoxetane