Fluoropolymer elastomer properties

The poly(fluoroalkoxyphosphazene) elastomers offer a unique combination of properties including a wide operating temperature range, excellent fuel and oil resistance and low temperature properties superior to those of the fluoros11leones and fluoropolymer elastomers. 

Monomers for commercially important large-volume fluoropolymers and their basic properties are shown in Table 1.1. These can be combined to yield homopolymers, copolymers, and terpolymers. The resulting resins range from rigid resins to elastomers with unique properties not achievable by any other polymeric materials. Details about the basic chemistry and polymerization methods are included in Chapter 2, fundamental properties of the resulting products are discussed in Chapter 3, and processing and applications in Chapter 4. 

Fluoropolymers are thermoplastic and nonrigid materials while fluoroelastomers have elastomeric properties. See Tables 2.1 and 2.2 for a comparison of physical and mechanical properties of select plastics and elastomers including fluorinated materials. 

Since the density of plastics highly depends on the presence of fillers or other additives, this property is far from being a characteristic feature. Unfilled polyolefines (polyethylene and polypropylene), a number of elastomers (natural rubber and silicone rubber), and foamed plastics come within the rare category of polymers which float on water. Some fluoropolymers exhibit a density around or greater than 2 g/cvo (see also Table 3.3). 

Automotive and electrical/electronics industries are the largest markets for engineering polymers which include Crastin PBT polyesters, Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomers, Rynite PET, high-temperature Thermx PCT (polycyclohexylene dimethyl terephthalate), Tribon composites and Tynex filaments, Vespel polyimide parts and shapes, Zenite liquid crystal polymers and Zytel PA resins. In July 2005, DuPont launched the DuPont Vespel SP-202 composition whose properties include the prevention of static charge build-up. Other products include Delrin acetal resins, engineering thermoplastic vulcanisates. Minion mineral reinforced PA resins and Teflon PTFE fluoropolymer resins. 

In general, research on classes of materials is connected with that on materials with specific properties but includes somewhat more general research on composites, polyurethanes, epoxies, fluoropolymers, ferroelectric liquid crystals (especially those with fast switching times), polymer-polymer miscibility, double network elastomers, crystallization in polymers, polymeric Langmuir-Blodgett and other multilayer films, and polymer-stabilized synthetic membranes. 

Some fluoropolymers prepared by DT with iodo-compounds have already been commercialized such as Daiel, Viton, and Technoflon. Such fluoroelastomers may find applications in high technology such as in O-rings, gaskets, hoses, transportation, medical devices, and electronics. The control of the architecture and functionality of the polymer chains makes possible the preparation of peroxide curable fiuoroelastomer with improved properties as well as the development of advanced fluorinated thermoplastic elastomers. Another application of functional fluoropolymers prepared by DT with iodo-compounds is the preparation of membranes for fuel cells. 

The characteristics of fluoropolymers are summarized in Table 1. Thermal and chemical resistance is in general with most of plastics, elastomers and perfluorinated membranes. Weather resistance with the outdoor durability for more than 20 years is specific for fluorinated paint resins. Surface properties such as water and oil repellency are provided by acrylic polymer-based textile finishes and coatings with long-chain per-fluoroalkyl groups. Electrical properties as well as a low refractive index are important for optoelectronics applications like optical fibers. 

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