Ebook: Fluoropolymers 1: Synthesis

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 hi- 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 apprec- 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, modern 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.

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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.
Much progress has been made in understanding the sometimes confounding properties of fluoropolymers. Computer simulation is now contributing to this with new fluorine force fields and other parameters, bringing realistic prediction within reach of the practicing physical chemist.
Fluoropolymers 1: Synthesis and Fluoropolymers 2: Properties attempt to bring together in one place the chemistry, physics and engineering properties of fluoropolymers. The collection was intended to provide balance between breadth and depth, with contributions ranging from the introduction of fluoropolymer structure-property relationships, to reviews of subfields, to more focused topical reports.