Performance and Application of Perfluoropolyether - Knowledge

What is perfluoropolyether?

Perfluoropolyether is a special type of perfluoropolymer compound with an average molecular weight ranging from 500 to 15,000. There are only three elements, C, F, and O, in the molecule. It has the characteristics of heat resistance, oxidation resistance, radiation resistance, corrosion resistance, and non-flammability. It is widely used in chemical, electronic, electrical, mechanical, nuclear, and aerospace fields.

perfluoropolyether characteristic

1. Chemical inertness:

Perfluoropolyethers are chemically inert to most corrosive chemicals such as acids, bases and oxidants. However, some nucleophiles (such as ammonia), active metals (such as Na, K, Al, etc.) and Lewis acids can decompose perfluoropolyethers and reduce their thermal stability.

2. Thermal oxidation stability:

In the absence of an effective catalyst, even in the presence of oxygen, perfluoropolyether is still very stable in the range of 270-300°C. Its decomposition temperature can reach 350-410°C.

3. Lubrication properties:

Perfluoropolyether oil has a low coefficient of friction, high load resistance and good lubricity.

4. Compatibility:

Perfluoropolyether is compatible with many substances, such as oxidants (hydrogen peroxide, liquid oxygen, etc.), hydrocarbon fuels, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine, diethyltriamine, etc. Y-type and Z-type structure perfluoropolyether has good compatibility with plastics and artificial rubber.

5. Flame resistance:

Flame resistance is an important condition for perfluoropolyether to be suitable for industrial and aviation lubricants. Compared with other types of lubricants, perfluoropolyether is more suitable for high temperature and harsh operating environments.

6. Radiation resistance:

Perfluoropolyether has good radiation resistance and has the lowest viscosity growth rate compared with hydrocarbons and silicone oil at the same dose.

Perfluoropolyether application

Perfluoropolyether materials are mainly used in special lubricants, industrial fluids, functional chemicals, etc. The specific application areas are:

1. Aerospace Industry:

In the absolute vacuum environment of space, the loss rate of ordinary lubricating oil is very high, while the loss rate of perfluoropolyether oil is extremely low under the harsh conditions of absolute vacuum, which fully meets the conditions for long-term use. Perfluoropolyether is suitable for lubrication and sealing of power systems and mechanical systems exposed to space, such as engines, propeller bearings, longitudinal rudder adjusters, power wheels, scanning mirrors, gear pumps, pressure gauges, metal joints and threaded fasteners.

2. Automobile Manufacturing Industry:

Perfluoropolyether oil can reduce component friction, reduce noise, enhance user comfort, and has good heat dissipation when used in engines.

3. Mechanical equipment industry:

Perfluoropolyether grease has excellent lubrication performance, and its film-forming ability is three times that of ordinary lubricants. It is anti-oxidation, low-volatile, non-coking, non-carbon deposition, corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant, and has good extreme pressure resistance. It can be used in various environments, especially in extremely high temperatures and harsh environments. Generally, it can extend the life of bearings by 5 to 50 times.

4. Electronic and electrical industry:

Perfluoropolyether is suitable for the lubrication of mechanical vacuum pumps in various semiconductor integrated circuit production processes such as plasma etching, chemical vapor deposition and ion implantation. It can also be used as a lubricant on hard disks, disks and other magnetic recording media in electronic instruments to extend the mechanical service life of electronic components.

5. Chemical Industry:

Perfluoropolyether can be used as a working fluid medium for various vacuum pumps (such as rotary pumps, turbomolecular pumps, vapor diffusion pumps) (especially in environments with corrosive gases), and is also used as a lubricating material for compressors and valves that come into contact with liquid oxygen, oxygen, corrosive and oxidizing gases.

6. Nuclear Industry

Perfluoropolyether is suitable for bearing lubrication of ultracentrifuges in nuclear industry facilities and is the only material that can resist uranium hexafluoride corrosion at 130°C.