Although most people probably haven’t heard about fluoropolymers, they are all around us. PTFE, FEP, and PFA are all classified as fluoropolymers, and many people consider them to be super plastics. They are very durable and easily malleable, so there are numerous different possible applications for them.
Teflon™ is probably the most widely recognized fluoropolymer because of its use as a coating for cookware. However, fluoropolymers can be used in a wide variety of areas and industries, including everything from national security to electronics and automobiles. Here are several of the most common ways fluoropolymers are used in the world around us.
- Flame retardant material – Many things all over the world are destroyed by fire every year, and firefighters who try to put out the fire must be protected. Fluoropolymers are one of the main components in the manufacturing of fabrics which have fireproof qualities, resist water, and insulate our firefighters from the flames. Without fluoropolymers, our firefighters would not be protected as they battle flames.
- Aircraft insulation – Flying is extremely dangerous if the aircraft you are in isn’t safe, and insulation plays an important role in safety. Many insulation materials are a fire hazard when used inside aircraft, so fluoropolymers provide an extra layer of protection so that the risk of fire from the insulation that is so critical to the aircraft’s safety is virtually eliminated.
- Manufacturing – There is an almost endless list of applications for fluoropolymers in the manufacturing industry. They can be used in protective clothing to protect workers from chemicals or inside machines to protect surfaces from corrosive substances.
- Wiring – Virtually every building in the country has wiring running through it, and that wiring could cause a fire if it is not protected. Fluoropolymers are often used to insulate wires and cables so that they do not cause harm to the rest of the structure. Everything from phone cables to data transmission wires, computer cables, and standard electrical wire are typically covered with a fluoropolymer coating. This plastic has flame resistant qualities that work behind the scene to keep us safe each and every day.
There are so many different uses for fluoropolymers that it would be impossible to list them all. And when you add the number of different types of fluoropolymers, you really begin to see just how expansive that list is. Each and every kind of plastic has different properties which make it perfect for different tasks. Coatings are engineered specifically to certain applications so that they can cover any need you can possibly think of.
Wherever you are reading this article, you are likely surrounded by fluoropolymers, and you don’t even know it! They are such an important part of our world that it is easy to see why we can’t live without them. Our world would look entirely different if we did not have these remarkable materials, and there would much that would be lacking from our lives if we did not know how to put them to good use.
At Toefco, our experts have a complete understanding of fluoropolymers and know how to utilize them to your best advantage. We are ISO 9001 certified, and we use world class technology in all of our coating applications. We can engineer the perfect fluoropolymer coating for your business, no matter what kind of application you will use it for. Let our experts connect you with the best custom fluoropolymer coating you can find.
To learn more about fluoropolymer industrial coatings call us at 888-912-5921 or ask an industrial coating engineer.