Abstract
Fluoropolymers are niche macromolecules that have variable morphologies (ranging from thermoplastics to, thermoplastic elastomers and they can be semi crystalline or totally amorphous). They exhibit a unique combination of properties such as very high thermal, chemical, ageing and weather resistances, a strong chemical inertness (toward solvents, hydrocarbons, acids, and bases), low surface energies (" repellant " effect to oil and water), low dielectric constants, refractive indices, dissipation factors, flammability, and humidity absorption. Moreover, the presence of the strong chemical C-F bond induces a crucial impact onto the high resistance to oxidation and hydrolytic stability. Hence, these specialty polymers have found many applications in building (paints and coatings resistant to UV and to graffitis), chemical (high performance membranes), petrochemical and automotives industries, aerospace and aeronautic (elastomers used as O rings, shafts and packings or diaphragms devoted to extreme temperatures close to liquid hydrogen or hydrazine tanks in boosters of space shuttles), for optics (core and claddings of optical fibers), textile treatment, of stone (especially coatings of old monuments), microelectronics. In spite of their high price, (mainly linked to unusual process of (co)polymerization, and to the cost of purification of gaseous monomers and to the low volumes of production), these polymers have found new developments in modern technologies. The synthesis, properties and applications of fluoropolymers will illustrate that chapter.