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. 2023 Jun:41:100795.
doi: 10.1016/j.cogsc.2023.100795. Epub 2023 Feb 27.

The universe of fluorinated polymers and polymeric substances and potential environmental impacts and concerns

Rainer Lohmann  1 , Robert J Letcher  2
Affiliations

The universe of fluorinated polymers and polymeric substances and potential environmental impacts and concerns

Rainer Lohmann et al. Curr Opin Green Sustain Chem. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of surface treatment chemicals falling under non-polymeric and polymeric categories. Polymeric PFAS are comprised of fluoropolymers, perfluoropolyethers and side-chain fluorinated polymers (SCFPs). Fluorinated polymers and polymeric substances have gained a significant market due to their chemical stability. To date, research and regulatory concern has primarily focused on the environmental occurrence and health effects of non-polymeric PFAS, particularly perfluoroalkyl acids and precursors. Industries consider most fluoropolymers as being "polymers of low concern", although there is already a considerable environmental burden and widespread contamination resulting from their production, manufacturing and use. For example, SCFPs are widely used, and known to release their perfluorinated side chains. Concerted action is needed to address the dearth of environment-associated information and understanding on polymeric PFAS.

Keywords: Fluorinated polymers; Fluoropolymers; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; Perfluoropolyethers; Side-chain fluorinated polymers; review.

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Figures

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Figure 1.
Schematic illustration of the three major sub-classes of fluorinated polymers and polymeric substances and major chemical examples including the two main degradation mechanisms of acrylate and urethane SCFPs.
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Figure 2:
Estimated fluoropolymer market and major polymers for 2021 (adopted from Korzeniowski et al. [13]). The fluoroplastics are polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), tetrafluoroethylene copolymers with perfluoroalkyl vinyl ethers (e.g., perfluoroalkoxypolymer, PFA), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) homopolymer, PVDF copolymer, ethylene- chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) copolymer, ECTFE terpolymer, polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), fluoroethylene-vinyl ether (FEVE), ethylenetetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene (EFEP) terpolymer, chlorotrifluoroethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (CPT) terpolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, vinylidene fluoride (TFE-HFP-VF2 [THV]) terpolymer as well as the specialty fluoroplastics, amorphous fluoropolymers, and fluorinated ionomers, and three fluoroelastomers, namely trifluoroethylene-propylene copolymer (FEPM), HFP-VF2 polymer and HFP-VF2-TFE polymers (FKM), and TFEPMVE perfluoroelastomer (FFKM).
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