The fluorine atom, by virtue of its electronegativity, size, and bond strength with carbon, can be used to create compounds with remarkable properties. Small molecules containing fluorine have many positive impacts on everyday life of which blood substitutes, pharmaceuticals, and surface modifiers are only a few examples. Fluoropolymers, too, while traditionally associated with extreme high performance applications have found their way into our homes, our clothing, and even our language. A recent American president was often likened to the tribology of PTFE. 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 apprecia tion of the mechanisms by which fluorine imparts exceptional properties all contribute to accelerating growth in fluoropolymers. There are many stories of harrowing close calls in the fluorine chemistry lab, especially from the early years, and synthetic challenges at times remain daunting. But, fortunately, modem techniques and facilities have enabled significant strides toward taming both the hazards and synthetic uncertainties, In contrast to past environmental problems associated with fluorocarbon refrigerants, the exceptional properties of fluorine in polymers have great environmental value. Some fluoropolymers are enabling green technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells for automobiles and oxygen selective membranes for cleaner diesel combustion.

Introduction to Fluoropolymers demystifies fluoropolymers for a wide audience of designers, engineers, sales staff and managers. This important group of high-performance polymers has applications across a wide range of market sectors, including automotive, aerospace, medical devices, high performance apparel, oil & gas, renewable energy / solar photovoltaics, electronics / semiconductor, pharmaceuticals, and chemical processing. Dr. Ebnesajjad covers the history and applications of a wide variety of materials, including expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride polymers and fluoroelastomers, just to name a few. Properties and applications are illustrated by real-world examples as diverse as waterproof clothing, vascular grafts and coatings for aircraft interiors. The different applications of fluoropolymers show the benefits of a group of materials that are highly water-repellant and flame-retardant, with unrivalled lubrication properties and a high level of biocompatibility. Health and safety and environmental aspects are also covered throughout the book. - Demystifies fluoropolymers for a broad audience of engineers in areas such as product design and manufacturing, as well as for non-engineers such as technical sales and management professionals - Explains the potential of fluoropolymers for a wide range of applications across sectors such as aerospace, energy and medical devices - Ideal for both recently qualified engineers and engineers with limited experience of fluoropolymers

Fluoroplastics, Volume 2: Melt Processible Fluoropolymers - The Definitive User's Guide and Data Book compiles the working knowledge of the polymer chemistry and physics of melt processible fluoropolymers with detailed descriptions of commercial processing methods, material properties, fabrication and handling information, technologies, and applications, also including history, market statistics, and safety and recycling aspects. Both volumes of Fluoroplastics contain a large amount of specific property data useful for users to readily compare different materials and align material structure with end use applications. Volume Two concentrates on melt-processible fluoropolymers used across a broad range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, electronic, food, beverage, oil/gas, and medical devices. This new edition is a thoroughly updated and significantly expanded revision covering new technologies and applications, and addressing the changes that have taken place in the fluoropolymer markets. - Exceptionally broad and comprehensive coverage of melt processible fluoropolymers processing and applications - Provides a practical approach, written by long-standing authorities in the fluoropolymers industry - Thoroughly updated and significantly expanded revision covering new technologies and applications, and addressing the changes that have taken place in the fluoropolymer markets

Fluoropolymers are unique materials. Since the middle of the twentieth century fluropolymers have been used in applications where a wide temperature range, a high resistance to aggressive media, excellent tribological characteristics, and specific low adhesion are required. Today, researchers turn to fluoropolymers to solve new challenges and to develop materials with previously unattainable properties. Fascinating Fluoropolymers and Their Applications covers recent developments of fluoropolymer applications in energy, optical fibers, blood substitutes, textile coatings, membranes and other areas, written by experts in these fields. This volume in the Progress in Fluorine Science series is ideal for researchers and engineers who want to learn about the technology and applications of these special polymers, as well as industrial manufacturers who are interested in achieving new product characteristics in their respective industries.

Because of the increasing need for ever better performing materials endowed with specific properties, macromolecular engineering has become a useful tool for designing well-architectured polymers (telomers, telechelics, stars, dendrimers, alternating, block- and graftcopolymers). These polymers are nowadays seeing an enormous growth. Among them, fluoropolymers are seen as high value added materials in many applications ranging from surfactants, optical fibers, biomaterials, coatings, to membranes for fuel cells. Indeed, the relationship between structure of the monomer to the properties of the polymers is of increasing interest so that these properties are tuned for the most appropriate applications. As most fluoropolymers are prepared from radical synthesis, this book devotes various parts on the use of the controlled radical (or pseudo-living) polymerisation of fluoromonomers leading to discoveries of thermoplastic elastomers or original surfactants for polymerisation in supercritical CO2. Well-Architectured Fluoropolymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications is composed of five chapters starting with a general introduction outlining basic concepts. Emphasis is placed on recent developments, and each chapter describes comprehensive techniques of synthesis of well-defined fluorotelomers or polymers, their properties, characterisations, and their applications, for immediate use by today's engineers, industrial and academic scientists, and researchers. The book has been arranged to enable self-managed reading and learning. It is both a source of data and a reference. - On the synthesis, properties and applications of fluoropolymers: remarkable, high value added materials applied in surfactants, optical fibres, biomaterials, coatings and membranes for fuel cells - For immediate use by today's engineers, industrial and academic scientists, and researchers - Written to enable self-managed reading and learning, being both a source of data and a reference

Handbook of Fluoropolymer Science and Technology A comprehensive handbook on fluoropolymer synthesis, characterization, and processing Fluoropolymers, one of the more durable classes of polymer materials, are known to enable novel technologies as a result of their remarkable properties. As key components in industry applications, fluoropolymers have established commercial interest and scientists have discovered more efficient approaches of handling them. This book reviews up-to-date fluoropolymer platforms as well as recently discovered methods for the preparation of fluorinated materials. It focuses on synthesis, characterization, and processing aspects, providing guidelines for practicing scientists and engineers. In addition, the book covers: Concepts and studies from leading international laboratories, including academia, government, and industrial institutions Emerging technologies and applications in energy, optics, space exploration, fuel cells, microelectronics, gas separation membranes, biomedical instrumentation, and more Current environmental concerns associated with fluoropolymers, relevant regulations, and growth opportunities Overall, the chapters provide coverage of chemical methods and help the reader further understand how fluoropolymer research provides solutions for material challenges. The concepts in this book also inspire professionals to identify new markets and funding sources for fluoropolymer research and development.

In recent years, the applications of fluoropolymer additives have expanded significantly, with even the meaning of 'fluoropolymer additives' expanding from relatively the narrow definition of PTFE powder fillers to a wide variety of fluoropolymer elastomers, used as a processing aid for plastics processing such as extrusion, injection molding, and film blowing. The benefits of fluoropolymer additives used in plastics are the elimination of sharkskin defects, increases in process speed and output (up to 20%), the reduction of die build up, the reduction of gels and optical defects, etc. In addition, fluropolymer additives are being increasingly used in inks, lubricants, and coatings. For example, in the coating industry fluoropolymer additives can increase the life cycle of exterior coatings due to their excellent weatherability and subsequently increase the time between recoats. Engineers and scientist involved in polymer processing need practical information about these additives, their applications, and proper and safe handling. Until now much of this information has been difficult to obtain because of commercial secrecy. Existing books on polymer additives only include the briefest of coverage of fluoropolymer additives. In this first book on an additive group of growing importance, the authors review the commercial additives available on the market. The applications chapters provide readers with a step by step description of techniques to select and incorporate these additives in various products. UNIQUE FEATURES AND BENEFITS: Fluoropolymer additives are becoming more widely used with key applications including use as a polymer processing aid (increasing speed and reducing faults) and as an additive to lubricants, inks and coatings. This book is the only practical guide available to the selection and use of fluoropolymer additives, and will help readers to optimize existing fluoropolymer applications and implement new ones. Fluoropolymers are known as an area where detailed information is hard to come by. In this book two former DuPont employees provide a wide range of industry sectors with the essential practical information and data they need to realize the full benefits of fluoropolymer additives. Written for practicing engineers, Ebnesajjad and Morgan take a highly practical approach to the subject, based on real-world experience and case studies.