Fluoropolymers: Origin, Production, and Industrial and Commercial Applications
James GardinerCSIRO, Manufacturing Flagship, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia. Email: james.gardiner@csiro.au
James Gardiner received a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Canterbury in 2004, having investigated new methods for peptidomimetic synthesis using metathesis chemistry under the supervision of Professor Andrew Abell. He then moved to ETH Zurich as a NZ FRST post-doctoral researcher with Professor Dr Dieter Seebach (2004–2007), investigating the synthesis and properties of β-peptides. In 2008, he relocated to Australia as an ARC Linkage Fellow at the University of Adelaide, and in 2009 worked as a research fellow with Professor Andrew Holmes at the University of Melbourne. In 2010, he joined the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) as a research scientist within the Manufacturing Flagship. His research interests include synthetic methods, fluorinated molecules and materials, polymers, peptides and peptidomimetics, and biomaterials. |
Australian Journal of Chemistry 68(1) 13-22 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH14165
Submitted: 21 March 2014 Accepted: 29 May 2014 Published: 12 August 2014
Abstract
Fluoropolymers have had a profound effect on all aspects of industry since their discovery during the 1930s. This review briefly describes the historical development of the fluoropolymer industry, with a focus on traditional fluoroplastics, and lists the major industrial and commercial materials currently in use. These include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), the ethylene copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), the ethylene copolymer of chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), polyvinylfluoride (PVF), polyvinyldifluoride (PVDF), Nafion, fluoroethylenevinylether (FEVE), a semicrystalline three component terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride (THV), Teflon-AF, Cytop, and Hyflon. The production, processing, and properties of these fluoropolymers are discussed, together with examples of the specific uses in chemical industry, manufacturing, electronics, architecture, energy, health and domestic sectors. Other related fluoropolymers such as fluoroelastomers, perfluoropolyethers, and fluorosurfactants are briefly mentioned. Environmental aspects of fluoropolymers are considered as is the current state of the fluoropolymer industry.
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