Fluoropolymers are strong, lightweight, and resistant to extreme environments, making them useful in industrial coatings, household items, and non-stick cookware. While generally safe in small quantities, those working in manufacturing plants may face risks from exposure to certain chemicals. Older or flaking cookware can also pose risks if ingested or heated too much.
A fluoropolymer is a large connected molecule that has a series of repeating carbon-fluorine bonds. There are many different types of polymers, some that occur naturally and some that are manipulated in the laboratory. Carbon-fluorine examples are almost always manipulated, but they also tend to be some of the strongest when it comes to resisting cracking and maintaining cohesion in extreme environments. These types of compounds are often used extensively in manufacturing, particularly when it comes to industrial coatings, and also have numerous uses in everyday life, from cleaning products to rain jackets and some cookware. There have been some concerns about the safety of these compounds, particularly if they are ingested or inhaled. Most studies have established that they are safe in small quantities, and the greatest risks are usually faced by those working in plants where these chemicals are created in large volumes.
Basic concept and features
Polymers have generally been used for a long time in human manufacturing efforts. There are many different types, but most feature strands of a few repeating chemicals. In a fluoropolymer, the most common repeating bonds are typically those that join carbon molecules to fluorine molecules. A number of other elements can and usually are included, but the prevalence of fluorine in particular is why this particular family of chains gets its name.
Most polymers are quite strong and can be used to strengthen and support a number of products and fluoropolymers are no exception. They are strong but light in weight and usually repel adhesion, meaning they don’t corrode as quickly; they are flexible, however, and depending on what else they are combined with, can often be bent or shaped to fit a variety of specific shapes. General resistance to heat, water, salt and chemicals in some of the most extreme environments is also on the asset list.
Industrial uses
One of the more popular uses of these compounds is in industrial manufacturing. Fluoropolymer resins are commonly used in many places even in large construction, in part due to their ability to seal out water and create a more or less impenetrable barrier to the outside elements. They can be found in linings made for bridges, water towers and coastal storage tanks, for example. Resin coatings incorporating these polymers have a wide variety of uses in marine environments as well, from boats and ships to offshore tanks, industrial marine equipment and platforms. The coating provides a smooth surface that repels airborne dirt, pollution, acid rain, and salt and mineral corrosion.
Around the house
The resins are also used in a number of household items. They are the basis for a wide range of stain and fabric protection products in the textile industry, for example, and are part of many different water-repellent coatings for clothing and shoes. In many places these compounds are also used in coatings that help improve the flame retardant and chemical protective qualities of clothing worn by firefighters, first responders and military personnel.
Polymers can also be part of some paint compounds. Water-based fluoropolymer emulsion paint typically maintains the same durability as solvent-based paints, but can reduce indoor air pollution by up to 30%.
Proprietary combinations
One of the most common places most people encounter these compounds is in nonstick cookware. The Teflon brand is a proprietary blend, but is usually one of the more common names on non-stick frying pans and skillets in most places. According to most accounts, Teflon was actually discovered by accident in 1938, but it has now become almost standard in the cookware industry. The polymers’ resistance to penetration and general ability to distribute heat evenly made pans and skillets prepared in this way very popular. Among other things, the coating allows you to cook with less oil or fat, and can also speed up cooking times.
Safety issues
Fluoropolymer manufacturers typically claim the compounds are safe for humans to come into contact with, and the consumer protection wings of most governments and regulatory bodies concur. The story changes when contact is not as limited as it would be when, for example, wearing a lined jacket or occasionally using a frying pan. People who work in the manufacturing of these resins and coatings may be significantly more at risk. Many studies have concluded that it is the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) used in the manufacturing process of liquid coatings that is the major cause for concern, and those on the front lines of the manufacturing process are often exposed to and could inhale this chemical a bit routine.
Cookware that is older or is starting to flake can also pose special risks, as these flakes can leach into the food and actually be ingested. If coated pans are heated too much, they can also release some fumes that are thought to be potentially harmful. Cookware manufacturers typically warn consumers not to abrade coated surfaces and that pets and small children with sensitive respiratory systems should not be in or near the cooker when these types of products are in use, especially over high heat.
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