Fluoropolymers—Environmental Aspects
Klaus Hintzer and Werner Schwertfeger
Location
Wiley Online Library
Link:
Abstract
Fluoropolymers are serving highly demanding applications in a diverse range of industries which no other polymer class can provide. As with all matured polymers, but in particular due to the persistent nature of fluoropolymers, all individual steps of the whole life cycle are scrutinized under environmental and sustainability aspects. The principal method for synthesizing fluoropolymers is free radical polymerization, as the other typical methods prove ineffective, due to the electrophilic nature of fluoroolefins. The free radical polymerizations are mostly water based, either as aqueous suspension polymerization (mostly applied for PTFE-polymers) or as aqueous emulsion polymerization in the presence of emulsifiers, most preferably in the presence of fluorinated emulsifiers. The realization of this vision will also ensure further future growth opportunities and it will stimulate the development of new fluoropolymers with unique properties.