Tetrafluoroethylene properties

Tetrafluoroethylene. Emulsion polymerisation of tetrafluoroethylene, catalysed by oxygen, yields polytetrafluoroethylene (Tejlon) as a very tough horn-hke material of high melting point. It possesses excellent electrical insulation properties and a remarkable inertness towards all chemical reagents, including aqua regia. 

Properties Homopolymer Copolymer 20% glass-reinforced homopolymer 25% glass-reinforced copolymer 21% poly(tetrafluoroethylene)- filled homopolymer... 

Properties. Tetrafluoroethylene (mol wt 100.02) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, nontoxic gas (Table 1). It is stored as a Hquid vapor pressure at —20° C = 1 MPa (9.9 atm). It is usually polymerized above its critical temperature and below its critical pressure. The polymerization reaction is highly exothermic. 

Copolymeis of ethylene [74-85-1] and tetiafluoioethylene [116-14-3] (ETFE) have been alaboiatory curiosity for more than 40 years. These polymers were studied in connection with a search for a melt-fabricable PTFE resin (1 5) interest in them fell with the discovery of TFE—HFP (FEP) copolymers (6). In the 1960s, however, it became evident that a melt-fabricable fluorocarbon resin was needed with higher strength and stiffness than those of PTFE resins. Earlier studies indicated that TFE—ethylene copolymers [11939-51 -6] might have the right combination of properties. Subsequent research efforts (7) led to the introduction of modified ethylene—tetrafluoroethylene polymer [25038-71-5] (Tefzel) by E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co., Inc, in 1970. 

The ETEE copolymer can be cross-linked by radiation (30), despite the high content of tetrafluoroethylene units. Cross-linking reduces plasticity but enhances high temperature properties and nondrip performance. The irradiated resia withstands a 400°C solder iron for 10 min without noticeable effect. 

In the 1960s and 1970s, additional elastomers were developed by Du Pont under the Viton and Kalrez trademarks for improved low temperature and chemical resistance properties using perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether), CF2=CFOCF3, as a comonomer with vinyUdene fluoride and/or tetrafluoroethylene (12,13) (see Fluorine compounds, organic-tethafluoroethylene polypous and copolyp rs). 

The most chemical-resistant plastic commercially available today is tetrafluoroethylene or TFE (Teflon). This thermoplastic is practically unaffected by all alkahes and acids except fluorine and chlorine gas at elevated temperatures and molten metals. It retains its properties up to 260°C (500°F). Chlorotrifluoroethylene or CTFE (Kel-F, Plaskon) also possesses excellent corrosion resistance to almost all acids and alkalies up to 180°C (350°F). A Teflon derivative has been developed from the copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene. This resin, FEP, has similar properties to TFE except that it is not recommended for continuous exposures at temperatures above 200°C (400°F). Also, FEP can be extruded on conventional extrusion equipment, while TFE parts must be made by comphcated powder-metallurgy techniques. Another version is poly-vinylidene fluoride, or PVF2 (Kynar), which has excellent resistance to alkahes and acids to 150°C (300°F). It can be extruded. A more recent development is a copolymer of CTFE and ethylene (Halar). This material has excellent resistance to strong inorganic acids, bases, and salts up to 150°C. It also can be extruded. 

The inability to process PTFE by conventional thermoplastics techniques has nevertheless led to an extensive search for a melt-processable polymer but with similar chemical, electrical, non-stick and low-friction properties. This has resulted in several useful materials being marketed, including tetrafluoro-ethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (Figure 13.1(d)), and, most promisingly, the copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoropropyl vinyl ether. Other fluorine-containing plastics include poly(vinyl fluoride) and polymers and copolymers based on CTFE. 

In 1989 Du Pont introduced Teflon AF, said to be a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and trifluoromethyldifluorodioxol. This amorphous fluoro-polymer has a similar heat and chemical resistance to PTFE but possesses several notable properties, including ... 

In attempts to further improve the stability of fluorine-containing elastomers Du Pont developed a polymer with no C—H groups. This material is a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) and, in small amounts, a cure site monomer of undisclosed composition. Marketed as Kalrez in 1975 the polymer withstands air oxidation up to 290-315°C and has an extremely low volume swell in a wide range of solvents, properties unmatched by any other commercial fluoroelastomer. This rubber is, however, very expensive, about 20 times the cost of the FKM rubbers and quoted at 1500/kg in 1990, and production is only of the order of 1 t.p.a. In 1992 Du Pont offered a material costing about 75% as much as Kalrez and marketed as Zalak. Structurally, it differs mainly from Kalrez in the choice of cure-site monomer. 

The first sample is a reactive poly(tetrafluoroethylene)/polyamide 6 (PTFE/ PA) blend [43]. When mixing PTFE micro-powder and PA in an extruder at about 280°C, relatively large PTFE particles occur in the final product because of immiscibility. By irradiation with electrons in air reactive groups in the PTFE powder are formed. These functionalised particles react with the molten PA in the extruder, and graft copolymers are formed, improving the compatibility of the components. At the same time a decrease in PTFE particle size proportional to the irradiation dose can be observed, and a PTFE/PA compound with better properties is produced. 

Catalytic properties of the active acid form of the composites obtained in comparison with random copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and PFAVESF (Nafion-type) were investigated in esterification, oligomerization, and aromatic compounds alkylation reactions. 

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), which is also known by DuPont s trade-name Teflon, is a solid at room temperature and has a dielectric constant in the range of 2.00-2.08, while its monomer, tetrafluoroethylene, is a gas at room temperature. PTFE is exceptionally chemically inert, has excellent electrical properties and outstanding stability, and retains its mechanical properties at high temperatures. The problem with PTFE is that it is not processable. A family of commercial polymeric materials known as Teflon AF is believed to be a... 

CF20—)m (—CF2CF20—) . This fluoropolymer has better low-temperature properties than Krytox, but is more expensive. Fomblin Z is made by photochemical polymerization of a mixture of oxygen and tetrafluoroethylene to prepare the random copolymer. The methylene oxide unit (—CF20—) imparts even more extraordinary low-temperature properties than those derived from vibration and free rotation of other perfluoroether linkages. 

Polytetrafluoroethylene ionomers, properties of, 14 475 76 Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) films, 23 720... 

Teflon HP Plus copolymers, 18 331 in lotus effect surfaces, 22 117 Teflon PFA. See also Tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyl ether applications of, 18 338-339 chemical properties of, 18 332-333 economic aspects of, 18 338 electrical properties of, 18 334 health and safety factors related to, 18 338... 

Thermal properties. See also Temperature of aromatic polyamides, 19 718 of asbestos, 3 300-304 of diesel fuel, 12 423 of ethylene—tetrafluoroethylene copolymers, 18 319-321 of fibers, 11 167 of filled polymers, 11 309—310 of gallium, 12 342 of glass, 12 588... 

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