Published May 1992
A number of fluorinated polymers are manufactured and sold, but three of them -- polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the copolymer (called FEP) of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) -- have the largest market shares. For example, fluorinated polymer consumption world-wide in 1988 on a weight basis was PTFE, 61%; FEP and PVDF together, 25%; and all others, 14%. This report presents preliminary process designs and esti-mated capital and production costs for the three polymers, along with process designs and costs for two monomers -- tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and vinylidene fluoride (VDF) -- and the monomer precursor for VDF, 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (CDFE).
TFE, PTFE and FEP, and selected monomers and polymers were evaluated in a previous report (PEP Report 166). In this report, we have reevaluated TFE, PTFE and FEP and have added evaluations of PVDF, VDF and CDFE. In addition, we include summaries of the relevant patents on the materials of interest, a section on the industry status of fluorinated polymers, and a section on the basic chemistry of the evaluated processes.
Other PEP Related Reports:
