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Key Points/Overview

  • Fluoropolymers’ unique combination of attributes makes them the substances of choice for durability and dependability in the toughest operating conditions.
  • Multiple industries depend on high-performance fluoropolymers, including aerospace, renewable energy, automotive, semiconductors, building and construction, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics, healthcare, and oil and gas, just to name a few.
  • While fluoropolymers are a type of PFAS, all PFAS chemistries are not the same. Fluoropolymers are distinctly different from small, non-polymeric PFAS like PFOA and PFOS.
  • Because of their distinct physical characteristics, fluoropolymers are not toxic, bioavailable, water soluble, or able to disperse into the air.

Uses & Benefits

Fluoropolymers are highly resistant to solvents, acids and bases, which make them ideal for potentially harsh industry applications and environments.

  • They have been shown to be able to withstand high temperatures without degrading, particularly important for applications in the aerospace and automotive industries.
  • Fluoropolymers also have a low coefficient of friction, which reduces wear and tear in mechanical parts, and they are highly durable and can withstand mechanical stress and extreme climates or other environmental factors.

Fluoropolymers are used in the following applications:

Airplane Aerospace

Aerospace

Multiple sections of aircraft benefit from temperature- and weather-resistance, including wire coatings, brakes, and communications equipment. Insulation made of fluoropolymers on wires and chemically resistant hydraulic hoses help ensure the safety of commercial, military, and space flight. Applications of fluoropolymers help enable high-performance navigation and communication antennae; lubrication for wing flap mechanisms and landing gear; and fuel-oxygen separation systems.

Automobiles

Automotive

Lighter yet strong materials help to produce cars that are safer and use less fuel. Seals, cables, and hoses made from fluoropolymers used in internal combustion engine vehicles help to reduce emissions. Fluoropolymers also enable electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell technology. Uses include gaskets, rings, valves, and hoses in the fuel system; wiring and circuit boards; pull cables; shock absorbers and bushings; and electric vehicle batteries.

Electrical Cables

Construction

Fluoropolymers are often used in coatings that help many types of built infrastructure like bridges, highways, buildings, etc. resist damage from the corrosive, life-shortening effects of ultraviolet radiation, water, oil, and dirt. Other uses include coating/sheathing for electrical and optical cables and materials used to manufacture or enhance pipes, valves, and filters.

Medical Tubing

Medical

Fluoropolymers in medical devices like catheters, guide wires, filters, and pumps help reduce the risks of device failure, foreign body rejection, cross infections, and clogging. Greater durability and resistance allow these devices to provide a lifetime of service without frequent, invasive replacement.

Wind Turbine

Renewable Energy

Fluoropolymers contribute to the safe and efficient generation and storage of renewable energy such as solar and wind. Solar panels, rechargeable storage batteries, and wind power generators are also more water- and weather-resistant and produce and store energy more efficiently.

shutterstock_2497764239

Telecommunications

The unique electrical properties of fluoropolymers are essential to achieve high-frequency communications cabling and 5G infrastructure. They also help make electronics more resistant to the elements, particularly water and extreme temperatures.

closeup of microscope

Safety Information

Fluoropolymers are large, stable, inert polymeric molecules. They have been shown to meet the criteria of polymers of low concern, meaning it has a low potential risk to human health or the environment.

It is important to note that, while fluoropolymers are one type of PFAS, they do not have the same chemical characteristics of other PFAS chemistries, like PFOA and PFOS, for which use has been phased out in the United States, Europe, Japan, and other countries.

  • Polymeric, high molecular weight fluoropolymers are too large to cross biological membranes. Biological membranes are, in essence, thin layers that separate the interior of a cell from the external environment. The fact that fluoropolymers do not cross biological membranes means they present little potential for human or environmental exposure.
  • In addition, fluoropolymers are not water soluble and thus are not likely to be found in sources of drinking water. This makes fluoropolymers different from other small, non-polymeric PFAS, like PFOA and PFOS, which have been found in water bodies. The durability of fluoropolymers means they also cannot transform into these other types of chemicals.

FAQs

Are all PFAS chemistries the same?

All PFAS chemistries are not the same. They have a wide variety of properties, uses, and health and safety profiles.

What is Fluorotechnology?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often referred to as PFAS or Fluorotechnology, are a diverse group of chemistries characterized by the strong bond between fluorine and carbon. Because of this strong bond, fluorotechnology, including fluoropolymers, provides products with strength, durability, stability, and resilience.

Are fluoropolymers safe?

Fluoropolymers are large, stable, inert polymeric molecules. They have been shown to meet the criteria of polymers of low concern, meaning it has a low potential risk to human health or the environment.

Polymeric, high molecular weight fluoropolymers are too large to cross biological membranes and therefore present little potential for human or environmental exposure. Fluoropolymers are not water soluble and, as a result, are not likely found in sources of drinking water. Importantly, fluoropolymers cannot transform into other types of PFAS, like PFOA and PFOS, in the environment.

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