Fluoropolymers discovery

Since the serendipitous discovery of Teflon at the Dupont Jackson Laboratory in 1938, fluoropolymers have grown steadily in technological and marketplace importance. New synthetic fluorine chemistry, new processes, and new appreciation of the mechanisms by which fluorine imparts exceptional properties all contribute to accelerating growth in fluoropolymers. 

The great value of the unique characteristics of fluorinated polymers in the development of modern industries has ensured an increasing technological interest since the discovery of the first fluoropolymer, poly(chlorotrifluoro-ethylene) in 1934. Hence, their fields of applications are numerous paints and coatings [10] (for metals [11], wood and leather [12], stone and optical fibers [13, 14]), textile finishings [15], novel elastomers [5, 6, 8], high performance resins, membranes [16, 17], functional materials (for photoresists and optical fibers), biomaterials [18], and thermostable polymers for aerospace. 

The era of fluoropolymers began with the serendipitous discovery of PTFE by Roy Plunkett of DuPont Companywhile conducting research to find new refrigerants. A number of fluoroplastics have been developed since the discovery of PTFE. They are divided into two classes of perfluorinated and partially fluorinated polymers. Perfluorinated fluoropolymers... 

Fluoropolymers are still one of the largest scale applications of fluororganic compounds [1]. This field began with the serendipitous discovery of poly(tetrafluoro-ethylene) (PTFE, or Teflon) by R. J. Plunkett at DuPont in 1938 (Figure 4.1). When... 

Many of these properties of C02 have been known for years,2 but aside from some small specialty applications such as the extraction of caffeine from coffee beans and the fractionation of some polymeric compounds, C02-based processes have not made major inroads in industry. Over the last decade, interest in the use of C02 as a solvent has seen a great resurgence as a result of the discovery of some unique solubility properties associated with C02 that have enabled the synthesis of fluoropolymers in carbon dioxide as well as the rational design of surface-active materials that are soluble in C02. 

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-... 

The discovery of fluoropolymers by Plankett, started in 1941 with polytetraflnoroethylene (PTFE). The most important polymers of this group are the homopolymers of tetrafluoroethylene, trifluorochloroethylene, vinyl flnoride and various copolymers based on these and other monomers [11]. 

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It is a pleasure for me to be here today and participate in this review program. I am proud of my contribution I am proud of the Du Pont Company with whom I was associated all of my active career I am proud of the fluoropolymer industry which has developed, and I am most of all proud of the benefits to mankind that have resulted from the original discovery of polytetrafluoroethylene and the development of useful applications for it. 

The serendipitous discovery of polytetrafluoro-ethylene (PTFE) in 1938 by Roy Plunkett, a DuPont Company chemist, [4] began the era of fluoropolymers. PTFE has been used in thousands of applications because of its unique properties. Numerous flu-oroplastics (Fig. 3.1) have been developed since the discovery of FI FE. These plastics are produced by several companies in the US, Europe, Japan, China, India, and Russia. Ruoropolymers are divided into two classes of perfluorinated and partially fluorinated polymers. Perfluorinated fluoropolymers are homopolymers and copolymers of Tre. Some of the comonomers may contain a small amount of elements other than C or F. 

The era of fluoropolymers began with the discovery of polytetrafluoroethylene in 1938. The history of fluoropolymers, as will be seen in this book, is steeped in both scientific curiosity and serendipity— the seemingly indispensable elements of most major discoveries and inventions. There has been an explosion of fiuoropolymer applications in all facets of human affairs. Old and new technological advances have been made possible by their unique properties. From the Manhattan project in the early 1940 s, to the Apollo missions in the 1970 s, to integrated manufacturing in the late 1980 s, industries have relied on fluoropolymers for their inertness and durability. New applications are being developed everyday after more than six decades since the discovery of this plastic family. Few materials have impacted the lives of peoples as extensively as fluoropolymers. 

A chronological survey of fluoropolymers is shown in Table 2. Since the discovery of polytetrafluoroelhylene by Dr. Plunkett of du Pont in 1938, a great number of fluoropolymers has been studied and has come into market. These fifty years will be roughly divided into three periods. 

The serendipitous discovery of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in 1938 by Roy J. Plunkett [82] and his co-workers at DuPont research laboratories has spurred the development of a variety of fluorine containing polymers, which include fluorosilicones, fluorinated polyurethanes, fluorinated thermoplastic elastomers, etc.. Many of the commercial fluoropolymers are suitable for melt processing via conventional injection molding, screw extrusion and blown film extrusion techniques. 

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