Polytetrafluoro

ethylene
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a strong, tough,
waxy, nonflammable synthetic resin produced by
the polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene. Known
by such trademarks as Teflon, Fluon, Hostaflon,
and Polyflon, PTFE is distinguished by its slippery
surface, high melting point, and resistance to
attack by almost all chemicals. These properties
have made it familiar to consumers as the coating
on nonstick cookware; it is also fabricated into
industrial products, including bearings, pipe
liners, and parts for valves and pumps.
 (C2F4)n

Polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, is made of a carbon

backbone chain, and each carbon has two fluorine atoms
attached to it.
Structure of PTFE:
 The chemical structure of PTFE is linear polymer of
C– F2 – C– F2 without any branch & the outstanding
properties of PTFE are associated strong & stable Carbon
– Fluorine bond.

Polytetrafluoroethylene is a linear polymer free

from any significant amount of branching. Whereas the
molecule of polyethylene is in the form of a planar zigzag
in the crystalline zone this is sterically impossible with
that of PTFE due to the fluorine atoms being larger than
those of hydrogen
 As a consequence the molecule takes up a
twisted zigzag with the fluorine atoms packing tightly
in a spiral around the carbon-carbon skeleton. A
complete turn of the spiral will involve over 26
carbon atoms below 19°C and 30°C above it there
being a transition point involving a 1% volume
change at this temperature. The compact
interlocking of the fluorine atoms leads to a
molecule of great stiffness and it is this feature
which leads to the high crystalline melting point and
thermal form stability of the polymer.
 Properties
PTFE is a thermoplastic polymer, which is a white solid at
room temperature, with a density of about 2200 kg/m3.
According to Chemours, its melting point is 600 K (327 °C;
620 °F). It maintains high strength, toughness and self-
lubrication at low temperatures down to 5 K (−268.15 °C;
−450.67 °F), and good flexibility at temperatures above 194
K (−79 °C; −110 °F). PTFE gains its properties from the
aggregate effect of carbon-fluorine bonds, as do all
fluorocarbons. The only chemicals known to affect these
carbon-fluorine bonds are highly reactive metals like the alkali
metals, and at higher temperatures also such metals as
aluminium and magnesium, and fluorinating agents such as
xenon difluoride and cobalt (III) fluoride.
 PTFE’s Many Applications
O Perhaps the best known variation of PTFE is Teflon, which is
used to make non-stick cookware.
O The non-stick properties of PTFE are so effective that not
even a gecko can stick to it. For this reason, PTFE can be
used on building surfaces to prevent insects from climbing
walls.
O PTFE’s non-stick properties have also been utilized by the
dental industry for fillings to prevent them from sticking to
adjacent teeth.
O PTFE is also used to make containers and pipes because it
is anti-corrosive, and non-reactive. This is useful for
laboratories handling highly corrosive chemicals that need to
be placed in glass containers. Additionally, its carbon-
fluorine bonds give PTFE increase tensile strength.
O PTFE can also be used as a lubricant for machinery.
When used this way, PTFE reduces friction, energy
consumption and equipment wear. One example of this
is lubricant used on bicycle chains.
O PTFE is also used to make gaskets because of its
strength and heat resistance. It is also used as a
thread seal tape for plumbing.
O PTFE also has good electric insulation properties and
thus it is used to insulate cables and connector
assemblies. This makes it ideal for hook-up wire,
coaxial cable and printed circuit boards.
O PTFE can also be found in consumer products such as
outdoor apparel, school uniforms, footwear, insoles,
and orthotics.
 Examples
Teflon is probably best-known for its role as the
non-stick surface inside cookware. This is because PTFE
industrial coating is one of the most slippery materials
that’s in existence today. In addition to being slippery,
the material also brings a number of other features to
the table, offering high temperature resistance, little
reaction to most chemicals, and reduced stress cracking
and corrosion. These features make Teflon perfect for
numerous applications, including:
 COOKWARE
As already mentioned, the slippery surface
created by Teflon makes it perfect for cookware. Many
brands offer lines of cookware that are coated with PTFE
in order to prevent food from sticking to the pots and
pans. This reduces the need for cooking oil because
these pots and pans are naturally non-stick.
The smooth surface that
doesn’t crack is often
achieved through the use
of PTFE industrial
coating. NAIL POLISH

Hair straighteners and

curling irons are often
coated with Teflon because
of the high temperatures
emitted by these tools.
HAIR STYLING TOOLS
There are numerous applications for PTFE industrial
coating within the automotive industry as well. The
blades of windshield wipers are the most notable
because the smooth surface enables them to glide
smoothly across the windshield.

WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES

Stains are less likely
to stick to carpets or
fabrics that have been
treated with PTFE
industrial.

FABRIC AND CARPET

PROTECTION
 CHEMICAL
AND
STEEL INDUSTRIES

Hoses and other machine parts commonly handle some highly

corrosive substances that sometimes are transferred at extremely
high temperatures. PTFE industrial coating is one of the best
materials to handle this type of use because it addresses all of the
problems that are otherwise caused by working with chemicals or
steel. Every type of hose will deteriorate over time, but those that are
made of PTFE industrial coating will do so much more slowly than
those made of other materials because of the many features of the
material.
 Basic Production Process of
PTFE Polymer:
The Manufacturing of PTFE Polymer/ Resin is basically
carried out in two stages. First, TFE Monomer is
generally manufactured by synthesis of Calcium
Fluoride (Fluorospar), Sulphuric Acid & Chloroform &
later polymerisation of TFE is carried out in carefully
controlled conditions to form PTFE. Due to presence of
stable & strong C-F bonds, PTFE molecule possesses
outstanding chemical inertness, high heat resistance &
remarkable electrical insulation characteristics; in
addition to excellent frictional properties.
 Manufacturing of PTFE Polymer / Resin:
Preparation of Monomer – TFE Monomer:
Tetrafluoroethylene was first prepared in 1933. The
current commercial synthesis is based on fluorspar,
sulphuric acid and chloroform.

O The reaction of fluorspar (CaF2) and sulphuric acid

yields hydrofluoric acid.
CaF2 + H2SO4 CaSO4 + 2HF

O Preparation of monochlorodifluoromethane and

Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE): Reaction of hydrofluoric acid
with Chloroform yields monochlorodifluoromethane
CHCl3 + 2HF CHClF2 + 2HCL
O Boiling point of monochlorodifluoromethane is -
40.8°C. And also used as a refrigerant. To prepare the
monomer monochlorodifluoromethane pyroleted, for
example, by passing through a platinum tube at
700°C.
2CHClF2 CF2 = CF2 + 2HCL
O Compounds produced during pyrolysis including some
highly toxic ring structures.

Purification of TFE:
Pure monomer is required for polymerisation. If
impurities are present it will affect the final product. The
gas is first scrubbed to remove any hydrochloric acid and
then distilled to separate other impurities.
 Polymerisation of TFE:
Pure uninhibited Tetrafluoroethylene can polymerise with
violence, even at temperatures initially below that of room
temperature. A silver-plated reactor, quarter-filled with a
solution consisting of 0.2 parts ammonium persulphate, 1.5
parts borax and 100 parts of water, and with a pH of 9.2. The
reactor was closed; evacuated and 30 parts of monomer
were let in. The reactor was agitated for one hour at 80°C
and after cooling gave an 86% yield of polymer.
PTFE is made commercially by two major processes, one
leading to the so called 'granular' polymer and the second
leading to a dispersion of polymer of much finer particle size
and lower molecular weight. One method of producing the
latter involved the use of a 0.1°% aqueous disuccinic acid
peroxide solution. The reactions were carried out at
temperature up to 90°C.
 History of PTFE
For over 70 years our lives has been improved by a resin
called polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE. Discovered
completely by accident on 6th April 1938 by DuPont
chemist, Dr. Roy Plunkett whilst trying to invent a better
coolant gas.
O 1938
“Discovery of PFTE”
PTFE burst upon the scene quite by accident, true to the
discovery pattern of so many great inventions,
In 1938 Mr. Roy J. Plunkett, a DuPont chemist, was
developing a new refrigerant when he discovered
"polytetrafluoroethylene," often referred to as PTFE resins.

O 1939
“Entry in to the Guinness Book of Records”
The "slickest substance" phenomenon is recorded in the
PHYSICAL EXTREMES section of the Guinness Book of World
Records under the heading Lowest Friction, it declares "The
lowest coefficient of static and dynamic friction of any solid is
0.02, in the case of polytetrafluoroethylene called PTFE -
equivalent to wet ice on wet ice."
O 1940
“Helps to end World War II”
During the Early 1940s many technological efforts had to
be directed towards the demand of World War II. PTFE had
surfaced just in time to play decisive roles, including the
development of the weapon that would end the war.
O 1942
“The first atomic bomb”
In 1942 Plunkett's PTFE invention contributed to the
Manhattan Project, created to produce first atomic bomb
and provided for gaskets, packings and linings to handle
the corrosive uranium hexafluorides, and made
development of this critical weapon possible.
O 1945
“Registered the Teflon Trademark”
Dupont learned that PTFE provided a combination of
properties unmatched by any other material and
registered the Teflon Trademark

O 1958
“Teflon in Food Processing”
French ministry of agricultural approved the use of
Teflon in food processing
O 1961
“The non-stick ‘Happy Pan’”
Demand for the nonstick ‘Happy Pan’ pan in USA reach 1 million
per month

O 1962
“PTFE comes to the UK”
PFTE was brought to the UK by fluorotec's very own Bruce
Mcallister

O 1969
“The ‘race to space’”
The ‘race to space’ led to a hunt for a material with unearthly
properties. The only plastic suitable for the environments of
extreme, cold, low pressures and the corroding effects of
activated oxygen in the upper atmosphere was PTFE.
O 1969
“Wide variety of PTFE Applications”
Bob Gore's experimentation with PTFE using high
temperature and and stretching leads to the discovery
that PTFE can be stretched to form a strong, porous
material, more commonly known as Gore-tex. The unique
properties of this materials have led to a wide variety of
PTFE applications, such as in clothing and even implant
material in soft tissue repairs.

O 2017
Production of PTFE will surpass 240,00 tons by the year
2017
Thank You…