What Is a Fluoropolymer Resin?
A fluoropolymer resin is a generic term for resins that contain fluorine in their main chain chemical structure. Due to the strength of the carbon-fluorine bond, they exhibit excellent heat resistance, flame resistance, chemical resistance, and weather resistance. In addition, it also has excellent properties, such as low friction, water repellency, and non-adhesiveness. However, fluoropolymer resin is more expensive than other resins.
Examples of fluoropolymer resin include PTFE, PFA, ETFE, PVDF, and various other resins with different chemical structures. Each of these resins has different heat resistance and processability. The most suitable fluoropolymer resin is selected according to the desired function, operating environment, and processing conditions.
Uses of Fluoropolymer Resins
Fluoropolymer resins are a generic term for polymers that contain fluorine in their main chain chemical structure. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA) are examples.
Compared to other resins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, fluoropolymer resins have superior heat resistance, chemical resistance, weather resistance, and low friction. Taking advantage of these characteristics, fluoropolymer resins are used in various applications, including sealing materials, electric wires, corrosion-resistant linings, and automobile fuel lines. In addition, fluoropolymer resins are sometimes used to coat metal surfaces with fluoropolymers, such as the Teflon coating on the surface of frying pans, in order to achieve their fluoropolymer resins functionality.
Types of Fluoropolymer Resins
As mentioned above, fluoropolymer resins are a generic term for a number of resins with different chemical structures. Examples of specific resins include PTFE, which contains only carbon and fluoropolymer atoms and has extremely high chemical resistance and flame resistance; PFA, which has the same properties as PTFE resin but can be melt-molded; and ethylene tetrafluoropolymer resins, which maintain stable mechanical properties in a wide temperature range of -200°C to 150°C and have excellent weather resistance. Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), maintains stable mechanical properties over a wide temperature range from -200°C to 150°C and has excellent weather resistance.
Each of the fluoropolymer resins has a different chemical structure and, therefore, different properties. For example, PTFE has a very high melt viscosity. As a result, it is formed by compressing the powder and then sintering it. On the other hand, other fluoropolymer resins, such as PFA, can be melt-molded. In addition, mechanical strength and thermal stability also vary with different resins, so it is necessary to select the appropriate fluoropolymer resins based on the required properties.
Characteristics of Fluoropolymer Resins
Fluoropolymer resins have carbon-fluorine bonds. Carbon-fluorine bonds are very strong and are not easily broken. Therefore, fluoropolymer resins have superior heat resistance, flame resistance, chemical resistance, and UV resistance compared to other resins.
In addition, fluoropolymer resins also have excellent low dielectric and insulating properties, as well as low friction and water repellency. On the other hand, fluoropolymer resins are more expensive than other resins and have the disadvantage of limited processing methods.