Applications of fluoropolymer

The consumption of fluoropolymers has increased over the years as technological advancement has required the properties of these plastics. The applications of fluoropolymers, in general, span all facets of human life from household uses to the aerospace and electronic industries. Useful properties (Table 1.2) of fluoropolymers in various applications include chemical resistance, thermal stability, cryogenic properties, low coefficient of friction, low surface energy, low dielectric constant, high volume and surface resistivity, and flame resistance. Applications for fluoropolymers always exploit one or more of the properties (Table 1.4) that set them apart from other plastics. 

This section does not cover the topic of coatings and finishes. These finishes are usually highly formulated and are applied as multiple-pass coatings which include special primers and intermediate layers. They may include pigments, additives, other resins, and more than one fluoropolymer. The main applications of fluoropolymer finishes are in cookware and industrial anticorrosion and high-temperature uses. A separate volume, Fluorinated Coatings and Finishes, a Plastics Design Library (PDL) volume in the Fluorine Handbook Series published by William Andrew, Inc., covers the topic. 

One common application of fluoropolymers is in gaskets and seals. This sec-I tion presents a case study of a threaded con-... 

Medical applications of fluoropolymers have been a sensitive area for the resin manufacturers and medical device fabricators. Some fluoropolymers have been used in the construction of FDA regulated medical devices. FDA only grants approval for a complete device, not components such as resin. Resin suppliers usually have specific policies regarding the use of their products in medical devices. Thorough review of these policies and regulatory counsel... 

Applications of fluoropolymers are still growing, even decades after the discovery of the first plastic (polytetrafluoroethylene) in this family. The increasing use of fluoropolymers in such dynamic industries as wire and cable insulation, automotive, aerospace, oil and gas recovery, and semiconductor manufacture has led to significant material developments and trends in the last few years. New fluoropolymers have been introduced to the market (amorphous fluoroplastics, modified PTFE, low-temperature fluoroelastomers, and amine-resistant fluo-... 

In this chapter, we would like to review the recent development of preparation and applications of fluoropolymer nanocomposites by the use of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers as key intermediates. 

Fluoropolymers can be readily processed into membranes which have found applications in ultrafiltration, microfiltration, wastewater treatment, protein adsorption and separation, proton conduction, stimuli-responsive and controlled deliveries, and biotechnology [6-10]. However, the practical applications of fluoropolymer membranes are limited to some extent by their hydrophobic and inert surface properties. 

The practical applications of fluoropolymer membranes especially in the areas of purification and separation related to potable water production, wastewater treatment and bioprocessing, have been limited to some extent by their hydrophobic and inert surface properties. Among the different modification techniques, graft copolymerization of hydrophilic monomers, or inimers for further surface reactions, from fiuoropolymers has been useful and effective in improving the physicochemical properties of the parent fluoropolymer with minimum alteration of their desirable bulk properties. Apart from fiilly fluorinated polymers, most of the partially fluorinated polymers can dissolve in polar organic solvents, such as Ai,Ai-dimethylformamide (DMF), A,A-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), NMP, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), but are insoluble in water, alcohols, and hydrocarbons. 

Part Three describes the properties, characteristics, and applications of fluoropolymers. The reader involved in the processing of fluoropolymers is advised to carefully study the safety issues and disposal methods of fluoropolymers. In this book, Ch. 17, Safety,... 

A fundamental property of fluoropolymers is their resistance to organic and inorganic chemicals (Fig. 12.1). Increased content of fluorine enhances the chemical resistance of the polymer. The overwhelming majority of the applications of fluoropolymers take advantage of their inertness to chemicals. Chemical properties of fluoropolymers are not affected by fabrication conditions. Another aspect of the interaction of these plastics with chemicals is permeation. Even though a reagent may not react with a fluoropolymer, it may be able to permeate through the polymer structure. The extent and rate of permeation is dependent upon the structure and properties of the plastic article as well as the type and concentration of permeant. Temperature and pressure usually influence the permeation process. This chapter reviews chemical compatibility of fluoropolymers and their permeation behavior towards different chemicals. 

Holds worth GS, Dalgleish A. Plasma Advancement Expands Applications of Fluoropolymer Linings and Coatings in the Battle Against Corrosion. COMPOSITES 2001 Convention and Trade Show Composites Fabricators Association. October 3—6, 2001 Tampa, FL. 

Fabrics that cannot be finished with aqueous fluoropolymer dispersions can be finished by spray application of a fluoropolymer dispersed in a volatile solvent, such as stabilized trichloroethylene [150] or tetrachloroethylene [151]. After spraying, fabrics pass directly from the spray booth into a dryer heated at 38-66°C. The finish is cured for 60 s at 150°C or at a lower temperature if the fabric cannot tolerate heating at 150°C [150]. Equipment has been built for continuous pad-dry-heat application of fluoropolymers from a volatile solvent, which is recovered almost completely and recycled [151]. The use of volatile solvents has caused environmental concerns. 

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