Fluoropolymers fabrication techniques

Failure of parts, irrespective of plastic t5 e, is an inevitable fact of the operation of chemical plants. Fluoropolymers are no exception in spite of their excellent chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. These plastics form the processing surfaces of equipment where they are exposed to the most aggressive and corrosive chemicals. The repeated exposure of fluoroplastics to these chemicals, in addition to other factors, can affect the integrity and surface quality of the parts. The chapters dealing with properties and part fabrication techniques of fluoropolymers should be consulted extensively. An understanding of the limitations of fluoropolymers and flaws created by fabrication methods is required for successful failure analysis of parts. 

All aspects of the fluoropolymers including monomer synthesis, polymerization, properties, applications, part fabrication techniques, safety in handling, and recycling are discussed. Homopolymers and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride, all melt processible, have been covered in Volume Two because of the close... 

Part Two describes the fabrication techniques for various fluoropolymers. They include perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA), fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), ethylene-chlo-rotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE), and polyvinyl fluoride (PVF). Major fabrication techniques including injection molding, extrusion, compression... 

The brief description of the commercially important fluoropolymers indicates the techniques by which they can be fabricated. Generally, the processing method is dependent on the rheology of the fiuoropoly-mer in question. Table 3.6 summarizes the structure-rheology-fabrication technique characteristics of various copolymers. Melt viscosity values represent a wide range of shear rate for melt processible polymers in Table 3.6. Volume One focuses on fluoropolymers which are processed by non-melt methods.The present volume is devoted to the melt processible fluoropolymers. 

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