MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION PIPING PVDF SEMICONDUCTORS STAINLESS STEEL

Download Full Article

Abstract

Since the discovery of fluoropolymers in 1939 (1), they have had an enormous commercial success in many different applications. These materials are attractive due to a range of properties including resistance to extremely harsh environments involving aggressive chemicals, multi-year exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) light, high temperatures, and fire. Because of the chemical and thermal stability of fluoropolymers, they generally do not require the use of antioxidants, or other stabilizers, making them ideal for high-purity water applications. This exceptional set of properties is because of the peculiar properties of fluorine, which impart particular strength to the carbon-fluorine chemical bond. This is one of the strongest in organic chemistry, much stronger than the carbon-hydrogen bond (485 kilojoules per mole [kJ/mol] dissociation energy, instead of 413 kJ/mol) (2, 3). Among all fluoropolymers, the alternated CH2/CF2 structure of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) allows for a particularly attractive combination of the above-mentioned good chemical and environmental resistance with excellent mechanical properties and mild processing conditions, thanks to their rather low melting point. All this, in combination with high-purity production technologies, constitutes the core of the value that PVDF, as well as other fluoropolymers, provide to the semiconductor industry, and other industries requiring the use of high-purity water.

Log in or Subscribe to Access the Full Article

To read or download full-length articles you need a subscription to Ultrapure. Please log in or subscribe below.