Use of Vinylidene Fluoride (VDF) Telomers to Obtain Well-architectured Fluoropolymers, and Their Applications

Abstract

The radical telomerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) with different chain-transfer agents (CTAs) and the use of the resulting fluorinated telomers are described. First, although many studies have been reported on such a reaction, the most recent ones involving CCl3Z, thiols, methanol, and alkanes will be summarized. Extension of the telomerization of VDF towards controlled radical polymerization [reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP)] could be achieved using specific CTAs, such as 1-iodoperfluoroalkanes and xanthates. The second part of the chapter is devoted to well-designed architectures obtained from these VDF telomers (e.g. macromonomers, block, graft and star copolymers or dendrimers). These VDF telomers have been involved in several applications such as surface modifiers, non-perfluorinated surfactants, electroactive thin films, porous coordination polymers, hybrid fluorosilicones, and nanocomposites, and these applications are discussed. The interest in inserting VDF units lies in obtaining a hydrogenofluorinated chain that maintains satisfactory performance and is much less stable than perfluorinated chains produced from tetrafluoroethylene telomers for which bioaccumulation, toxicity, and persistence have been highlighted.

Copolymers of vinylidene fluoride with functional comonomers and applications therefrom: Recent developments, challenges and future trends

“…Fluoropolymers are thermally, biologically and chemically stable, non-mobile, nonbioaccumulative, non-toxic and display well-established safety profiles. They fullfill the widely accepted polymer hazard assessment criteria to be considered PLC [96][97][370][371][372]. Commercially Actually, these copolymers are essential to achieving important societal goals such as renewable energies, decarbonization, and/or competitiveness in the digital transition [371].…”

Transformative Dynamics: Self-Assembly of Iron Oxide Hydroxide Nanorods into Iron Oxide Microcubes for Enhanced Perfluoroalkyl Substance Remediation

“…Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are man-made organofluorine compounds having an acidic headgroup like sulfonic, carboxylic, or phosphonic and a fluorinated alkyl chain of various lengths. − Since the 1940s, PFAS has been found in a wide range of industrial uses, such as the production of fluorine-based polymer materials, foam in firefighting extinguishers, and the chemical modification of textile and electronics goods. , Perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the most commonly detected PFAS, and it is recognized as potential carcinogens and thyroid hormone disruption. , Therefore, it is crucial to create an efficient method for the removal and remediation of PFAS from effluents before they enter the environment and cause environmental problems. Although there are several technologies and methods available for their treatment, there are numerous pitfalls or drawbacks due to their harsh treatment conditions, difficult maintenance, usage of additives, poor mineralization levels, reduced energy efficiency, and expensive operating costs .…”

Recycling and the end of life assessment of fluoropolymers: recent developments, challenges and future trends

“…Although FPs are also regarded as per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), [15][16][17] they represent a special family in the polymeric PFAS, which are composed of: (i) polymers bearing fluorinated side chains such as poly[fluoro(meth)acrylate]s, [18][19][20][21] poly[fluoro(oxetane)]s 3 and fluorinated polyurethanes, 3 (ii) perfluoropolyethers, PFPEs, obtained from the ring-opening polymerisation of either hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) or oxetanes, or achieved from the UV-catalysed photo-polymerisation of TFE and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) in the presence of oxygen 22 and (iii) polymers bearing carbon and fluorine atoms in their backbones (Fig. 1 and 2).…”