Polytetrafluoroethylene decomposition products

Polytetrafluoroethylene decomposition products thermal decomposition of the fluorocarbon chain in air leads to the formation of oxidized products containing carbon, fluorine and oxygen. Because these products decompose in part by hydrolysis in alkaline solution, they can be quantitatively determined in air as fluoride to provide an index of exposure. No TLV is recommended pending determination of the toxicity of the products, but air concentration should be minimal. (Trade names Algoflon, Fluon, Teflon, Tetran.)... 

Plaster of Paris Platinum, soluble salts (as Pt) Polychlorobiphenyls, see Chlorodiphenyls Polytetrafluoroethylene decomposition products Propane... 

Polytetrafluoroethylene decomposition products Overexposures result in polymer fume fever, a disease with fiu-iike symptoms inciuding chills, fever, and cough. See also p 259. Produced by pyrolysis of Teflon and related materials. Perlsofluorobutylene and carbonyl fluoride are among the pyrolysis products. 

The vacuum pyrolysis of thin samples of polytetrafluoroethylene follows first-order kinetics with monomer as the major decomposition product in the temperature range from 360—510° C (Siegle, Muus, and Lin). The rate constant does not depend on either the molecular weight or the type of polymer and is characterized by an activation enthalpy of 83.0 kcal/mole and a frequency factor of 3 x 1019 sec-1. The melt viscosity decreases during pyrolysis. 

The thermal decomposition of polytetrafluoroethylene has been studied by a number of workers Above 360 °C the main decomposition product is perfluoroethylene suggesting that CF2 or C2F4 units are cracked off the polymer. The decomposition follows simple first-order kinetics with an activation energy - ° of about 80 kcal.mole. ... 

Thermal decomposition of a y-irradiated poly( vinyl fluoride) occurred in two main steps firstly, elimination of hydrogen fluoride and secondly, main chain scission to yield unsaturated hydrocarbons." Polytetrafluoroethylene and the copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropene were degraded in various atmospheres and the decomposition products analysed." - For an inert atmosphere over twenty different fluorinated products were identified. For air the major products were COF, CF , and COj with minor amounts of fluorocarbons. The gaseous and solid decomposition products have also been analysed from the thermal degradation of poly(carbon monofluorides) containing different proportions of fluorine. Kinetic data were also obtained. 

Polymer fume fever An illness characterized by temporary flu-like symptoms caused by inhaling the products released during the decomposition of fluoropolymers, mainly polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Tobacco smoke enhances the severity of this condition. 

Finally, it is vitally important to exhaust the fumes of the ovens properly, thus avoiding exposure to the by products of the decomposition of surfactants, additives, and polytetrafluoroethylene. 

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