Abstract

The development, methodology, and applications of direct fluorination technology to produce organofluorine compounds and fluorocarbon polymers is discussed in detail, including historic difficulties with direct fluorination. Techniques such as use of metal fluorides as an alternative to direct fluorination and the use of hydrogen fluoride electrochemical cell methods to affect direct fluorination are covered. The thermochemistry and kinetic control of direct fluorination are discussed. Fluorocarbon materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene and polycarbon monofluoride and their excellent high temperature properties are described. The experimental techniques that have led to the successful control of direct fluorination are described as are modern direct fluorination methods now practiced on a commercial scale by 3M Co. and Exfluor Research Corp. Examples of important direct fluorination processes such as synthesis of simple and complex organic molecules, new fluorocarbon polymers from hydrocarbon polymers, new polymeric materials with inert surfaces produced by surface fluorination, and technology for blow-molding polymeric objects during fluorination are discussed.