Question

Teflon is a famous polymer used in many places.

1) Write out the chemical synthetic scheme of Teflon;

2) Explain why Teflon is much more chemically and thermally stable compared to typical hydrocarbon or C-H based polymers?

Answer 1

1)It is formed when chloroform is treated with the hydrofluoric acid and antimony trifluoride .
Reactions:
SbF3                   800oC
CHCl3 ———→ CHF2Cl ————→ CF2 = CF2
HF       –HCl (b.pt. –76oC)
when polymerused tetrafluoroethylene forms a material which plasic like on appearance and is called Teflon.

nCF2 = CF2 ————→ (– CF2 – CF2 –) n
(Tetrafluoroethylene)            (Teflon)

2) Teflon is one of the chemically inert substance. And It is not affected by strong acids which are chemically harmfull and even after by boiling aqua- regia.

• it has the property to be stable at high temperatures

• It is a thermoplastic polymer, that appears as a white solid at room temperature, having a density of about 2200 kg/m3. It has a melting point of 600 K (327 °C; 620 °F).
• It bears mechanical properties such at the degrade gradually at temperatures above 194 K (−79 °C; −110°F).
• PTFE mainly consist of carrbon-fluorine bonds and it also gains the properties from the bonds created only. alkali metals and most highly reactive fluorinating agents are the only chemicals that can affect its property.
• It has a coefficient of friction that is 0.05 to 0.10 which is the third-lowest of any known solid material. It has one of the profecien tdielectric properties.