Project Title:

New Perfluoropolyether Elastomers for Low- and High-Temperatures

04.11-3812
NAS5-30809
New Perfluoropolyether Elastomers for Low- and
	High-Temperatures
Exfluor Research Corporation
	P.O. Box 7807
	Austin, TX 78713-7807
		Hajimu Kawa
(512-454-3812)

Abstract:

	The company has developed a technology to fluorinate high-molecular-weight hydrocarbon
polyethers. A wide variety of perfluoroalkylether elastomeric polymers exhibiting
excellent low-temperature flexibility have been prepared. Some of those perfluoropolyether
elastomers were found to have glass transition temperatures as low as -100oC. However,
none of those polymers has the good processability required in commercial applications.
Perfluorinated polymers have such low molecular interactions that they do not stick
together very well like most hydrocarbon and partially fluorinated polymers do. The
lack of reactive sites in those perfluoropolyether elastomers makes it impossible
chemically to cross-link the polymers. Efforts will be made to solve the above processability
problems by introducing some functionality into perfluoropolyether elastomers using
recently developed fluorination techniques. The physical properties of the polymers
will be studied by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications: Elastomeric polymers based on perfluoropolyether
structures that are capable of retaining their elasticity at low temperatures (-100C)
while exhibiting oxidative and thermal stability at high temperatures (400C) could
solve many materials problems and be fabricated into O-rings and other seals.