Part I Materials, Technology, and Properties 1
- 1 Introduction 3
- 1.1 Definitions 5
- 1.1.1 Polymeric Films and Sheets 5
- 1.1.2 Fluoropolymers 6
- 1.2 Manufacturing Methods for the Production of Films From Melt-Processible Thermoplastics 9
- 1.2.1 Film Extrusion 9
- 1.2.2 Film Extrusion Methods 14
- 1.3 Secondary Processing of Thermoplastic Films 22
- 1.3.1 Surface Preparation of Thermoplastic Films 23
- 1.3.2 Lamination of Thermoplastic Films 26
- 1.3.3 Heat Sealing of Thermoplastic Films 28
- 1.3.4 Metallization of Thermoplastic Films 29
- 1.3.5 Orientation 31
References 36
2 Materials for Fluoropolymer Films and Sheets 39
- 2.1 Perfluoroethylene (Polytetrafluoroethylene) 39
- 2.1.1 Industrial Process for Production of Polytetrafluoroethylene 39
- 2.1.2 Structure and Related Properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene 41
- 2.1.3 General Properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene 43
- 2.1.4 Forms of PTFE Resins for Films and Sheets 46
- 2.1.5 Modified Polytetrafluoroethylene 46
- 2.1.6 Processing of PTFE 47
- 2.1.7 Applications for Polytetrafluoroethylene 47
2.2 Melt-Processible Fluoropolymers 49
- 2.2.1 Industrial Process for the Production of Melt-Processible Fluoropolymers 50
- 2.2.2 Structure and Related Properties of Melt-Processible Fluoropolymers 54
- 2.2.3 Processing of Melt-Processible Fluoroplastics 60
- 2.2.4 Applications for Melt-Processible Fluoropolymers 65
- 2.3 Other Thermoplastic Fluoropolymers 69
- 2.3.1 Industrial Processes for the Production of Other Thermoplastic Fluoropolymers 69
- 2.3.2 Structure and Related Properties of Other Thermoplastic Fluoropolymers 71
- 2.3.3 Processing of Other Thermoplastic Fluoropolymers 74
- 2.3.4 Applications for Other Thermoplastic Fluoropolymers 76
References 77
3 Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 85
- 3.1 Manufacturing Methods for the Production of Polytetrafluoroethylene Films and Sheets 85
- 3.1.1 Skived Polytetrafluoroethylene Films and Sheets 85
- 3.1.2 Extruded Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene Films and Tapes 93
- 3.1.3 Process for Unsupported Cast Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 99
- 3.1.4 Process for Supported Cast Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 103
- 3.1.5 Laminates 104
References 105
4 Films from Melt-Processible Fluoropolymers 107
- 4.1 Production of FEP Films 107
- 4.1.1 Materials 107
- 4.1.2 Equipment 107
- 4.1.3 Process Conditions 107
- 4.2 Production of PFA and MFA Films 108
- 4.2.1 Materials 108 4.2.2 Equipment 108
- 4.2.3 Process Conditions 108
- 4.3 Production of ETFE Films 109
- 4.3.1 Materials 109
- 4.3.2 Equipment 109
- 4.3.3 Process Conditions 109
- 4.4 Production of PVDF Films 109
- 4.4.1 Materials 109
- 4.4.2 Equipment 110
- 4.4.3 Process Conditions 110
- 4.5 Production of PCTFE Films 110
- 4.5.1 Materials 110 4.5.2 Equipment 110
- 4.5.3 Process Conditions 110
- 4.6 Production of ECTFE Films 111
- 4.6.1 Materials 111 4.6.2 Equipment 111
- 4.6.3 Process Conditions 111
- 4.7 Production of THV Films 111
- 4.7.1 Materials 111
- 4.7.2 Equipment 112
- 4.7.3 Process Conditions 112
- 4.8 Production of Films From Other Thermoplastic Fluoropolymers Films 112
- 4.8.1 Production of Films From Fluorinated Thermoplastic Elastomers 112
- 4.8.2 Production of Films From Amorphous Perfluoropolymers 113
References 114
5 Films from Polyvinyl Fluoride 115
- 5.1 Properties of Polyvinyl Fluoride 115
- 5.2 Processing Polyvinyl Fluoride 116
- 5.3 Manufacturing of Unoriented Polyvinyl Fluoride Films 117
- 5.4 Manufacturing of Oriented Polyvinyl Fluoride Films 118
- 5.4.1 Polyvinyl Fluoride Dispersion in the Latent Solvent 118
- 5.4.2 Film Extrusion 119
- 5.4.3 Biaxial Orientation 120
References 122
6 Secondary Processing of Fluoropolymer Films 125
- 6.1 Surface Preparation of Fluoropolymer Films 125
- 6.1.1 Corona Treatment of Fluoropolymer Films 125
- 6.1.2 Sodium Etching of Fluoropolymer Films 125
- 6.1.3 Plasma Treatment of Fluoropolymer Films 126
- 6.1.4 Flame Treatment of Fluoropolymer Films 126
- 6.2 Lamination of Fluoropolymer Films 127
- 6.3 Heat Sealing of Fluoropolymer Films 127
- 6.4 Metallization of Fluoropolymer Films 127
- 6.5 Orientation of Fluoropolymer Films 128
- 6.6 Other Methods for Secondary Processing of Fluoropolymer Films 128
- 6.6.1 Laser Marking of Fluoropolymer Films 128
- 6.6.2 Laser Cutting of Fluoropolymer Films 129
- 6.6.3 Printing on Fluoropolymer Films 129
- 6.6.4 Thermoforming of Fluoropolymer Films 130
References 131
7 Testing of Thermoplastic Films 133
- 7.1 Standards for Testing of Mechanical Properties 133
- 7.2 Standards for Testing of Thermal Properties 134
- 7.2.1 Heat Aging 134
- 7.2.2 Thermal Stability 134
- 7.2.3 Heat Sealability 134
- 7.2.4 Shrinkage 134
- 7.2.5 Linear Coefficient of Expansion 134
- 7.2.6 Continuous Use Temperature 135 7.3 Standards for Testing of Electrical Properties 135
- 7.4 Standards for Testing of Barrier Properties 135
- 7.5 Standards for Testing of Optical Properties 136
- 7.5.1 Refractive Index 136
- 7.5.2 Optical Transmission 136
- 7.6 Standards for Testing of Chemical Resistance 136
- 7.7 Standards for Testing of Surface Properties 136
- 7.7.1 Critical Surface Energy 136 7.7.2 Contact Angle 136
- 7.8 Standards for Testing of Thermal Stability 136
- 7.9 Standards for Testing of Weatherability 137
- 7.9.1 Accelerated Testing Methods 137
- 7.9.2 Outdoor Testing Methods 137
References 137
8 Safety, Hygiene, Disposal, Recycling of Fluoropolymer Films 139
- 8.1 Safety, Hygiene, and Disposal of Fluoropolymer Films 139
- 8.1.1 Toxicology of Fluoroplastics 139
- 8.1.2 Thermal Behavior of Fluoroplastics 139
- 8.1.3 Medical Applications of Fluoroplastics 141
- 8.1.4 Food Contact 141
- 8.1.5 Environmental Protection and Disposal Methods for Fluoroplastics 142
- 8.2 Recycling of Fluoropolymer Films 142
References 143
Part II Typical Properties of and Applications for Fluoropolymer Films 145
9 Polytetrafluoroethylene Films—Typical Properties and Applications 147
- 9.1 Skived Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 147
- 9.2 Cast Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 147
- 9.3 Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 150
- References 150
10 FEP Films, Typical Properties and Applications 151
References 152
11 Perfluoroalkoxy Resin Films—Typical Properties 153
11.1 PFA Films 153
11.2 MFA Films 154
References 155
12 ETFE Films—Typical Properties and Applications 157
References 158
13 PCTFE Films—Typical Properties and Applications 159
Further Reading 160
14 ECTFE Films—Typical Properties and Applications 161
References 162
15 PVDF Films—Typical Properties and Applications 163
References 164
16 THV Films—Typical Properties 165
Reference 166
17 Teflon AF Films—Typical Properties 167
Reference 168
18 DAI-EL T-530 Films—Typical Properties 169
Reference 170
19 Polyvinyl Fluoride Films—Typical Properties and Applications 171
References 173
Part III Commercial Grades of Fluoropolymer Films and Their Applications 175
20 Commercial Grades of Fluoropolymer Films 177
- 20.1 Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 177
- 20.1.1 Skived Films 177 20.1.2 Cast Films 177
- 20.1.3 Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 180
- 20.2 Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene Films 180
- 20.3 Perfluoroalkoxy Polymer Films 185
- 20.3.1 Films From PFA Resins 188
- 20.3.2 Films From MFA Resins 192
- 20.4 Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene Copolymer Films 198
- 20.5 Polychlorotrifluoroethylene Films 198
- 20.6 Ethylene-Chlorotrifluoroethylene Copolymer Films 202
- 20.7 Polyvinylidene Fluoride Films 211
- 20.8 THV Fluoroplastic Films 216
- 20.9 Teflon AF Fluoroplastic Films 216
- 20.10 Polyvinyl Fluoride Films 222
- 20.10.1 Oriented Polyvinyl Fluoride Films 222
- 20.10.2 Unoriented Polyvinyl Fluoride Films 222
- 20.10.3 Classification of Polyvinyl Fluoride Films 225
- References 233
21 Applications for Commercial Fluoropolymer Films 235
- 21.1 Applications for Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 235
- 21.1.1 Applications for Skived Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 235
- 21.1.2 Applications for Cast Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 241
- 21.1.3 Applications for Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene Films 242
- 21.2 Applications for Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene Films 242
- 21.3 Applications for Perfluoroalkoxy Resin Films 243
- 21.3.1 Applications to Perfluoroalkoxy Resin Films 243
- 21.3.2 Applications for MFA Films 243
- 21.4 Applications for Copolymer of Ethylene and Tetrafluoroethylene Films 244
- 21.5 Applications for Polychlorotrifluoroethylene Films 245
- 21.6 Applications for Copolymer of Ethylene and Chlorotrifluoroethylene Films 246
- 21.7 Applications for Polyvinylidene Fluoride Films 251
- 21.8 Applications for Terpolymer of Tetrafluoroethylene, HFP, and VDF Films 252
- 21.9 Applications for Teflon AF Films 252 21.10 Applications for Polyvinyl Fluoride Films 253
- 21.11 Applications for Fluoropolymer Films by Industries and Activities 256
- References 256
Appendix 1: Major Fluoropolymer Film Manufacturers, Suppliers, and Distributors 257
Appendix 2: Trade Names of Common Commercial Fluoropolymers 261
Appendix 3: Acronyms and Abbreviations 263
Appendix 4: Glossary of Terms 267
Appendix 5: Tedlar Film Designation Guide 277
Bibliography 279
Index 281