Technology Trend: High Performance Fluoropolymers

Fluorocarbon compounds containing polymer with additional characteristics such as high mechanical strength, low coefficient of friction, excellent electrical insulation, resistance against chemical environment and elevated temperature is commonly referred high performance fluoropolymers.

Polyvinyl tetrafluoro ethylene is likely to be more demanding in terms of value and volume owing to its vast applications area along with excellent properties such as chemical resistance, and low cost as compared to other fluoropolymers. It is most extensively used polymer for dental filling, cookware, nonstick pans, water proof clothing, etc.

Fluorinated ethylene propylene is the clearest plastic among high performance fluoropolymers and provides stress cracking resistance, as well as anti-corrosion property to tubes, sheets, and liners.

The largest market for high performance fluoropolymers is currently owed by North America owing to its increasing economic advancement and huge demand from a wide range of industries such as electrical and electronics, chemical, and automobiles. Asia pacific is also likely to emerge as the most significant market for high performance fluoropolymers in the forecasted period 2024.

Application-based Segments
Coatings:
A high fluoropolymer coating can be applied to all the manufactured metal parts by electrostatic powder and can be used to attach large sheets with epoxy to line the interiors of large metal and non-metal containers. It is also the commonly used for non-stick coating on pans and other cookware applications.

High performance fluoropolymer-based coatings are formulated for optimum impact strength, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance and quality assurance. Exclusively used on exterior applications, especially in the ultra-high durable architectural market on commercial, residential, monumental buildings, curtain wall, skyscrapers, hospitals, malls etc.

Mechanical Parts and Components:
This high-performance fluorinated elastomers, fluoroplastics and compounds are used in a wide variety of industries to enhance performance and productivity, and to expand freedom of design.

Fluoropolymers keeps valuable equipment up and running, even in aggressive chemical environments and high temperature and weathering resistance such as those found in semiconductor etching or inside a hot-running engine, pharmaceutical manufacturing or the oil and gas industry.

High-Performance Fluoropolymers Product Developments:
IFS COATINGS High Performance Fluoropolymers(IFS 500FP) are almost exclusively used on exterior applications, especially in the ultra-high durable architectural market on commercial, residential, monumental buildings, curtain wall, skyscrapers, hospitals, malls etc.

DUPONT™ Tefzel ® fluoropolymer 210 is a special purpose resin available in translucent and has a higher flow rate and a lower maximum service temperature. For application in electrical components, such as sleeving, coil; lab ware, such as tubing, valves; battery or instrument components that require chemical inertness; and mechanical parts.

SAINT-GOBAIN’s Chemfilm® Extruded high-performance Fluoropolymer Films provides better reliability than metals and less expensive plastic from environmental extremes such as chemical exposure, high temperatures long term outdoor aging performance.

High Performance Fluoropolymers: Recent Advancement Technologies:
The standard approaches for preparing these materials had limitation ; it required a long reaction time and produces a large amount of salt as a byproduct, which must then be removed before processing into coatings or other devices so developing a more streamlined approach to preparing new fluoropolymers. Therefore, IBM Research’s researchers are working to develop the next-generation of highly fluorous polymers materials for use in high performance applications in coatings for medical devices, which are often prone to colonization by bacteria that can be transmitted to patients.

Highly fluorous polymers materials can also serve as a protective layer or film for the medical instrument or implant by preventing the adhesion of bacteria to the surface, helping preserve patient health.