Solvay Solexis, makers of an environmentally safe line of dielectric fluids (no CFCs), including Hermeticity testing, Vapor Phase reflow, Thermal Shock, Heat Transfer and Liquid Burn-in.

Perfluorinated fluids, lubricants, and greases are versatile materials used in semiconductor, electronic, and other systems. They play a critical role in the function, lubrication and testing of aerospace, semiconductor, and automotive components where heat stability, purity, and very low toxicity are required.

 

The development of perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs), composed entirely of carbon, fluorine and oxygen, represents a major contribution to the interest of advanced technology by Solvay Solexis. PFPEs exhibit an impressive range of physicochemical properties prized in fluids and lubricants suitable for extreme conditions. These unique materials combine exceptional properties including chemical stability, non-toxicity, non-flammability, high and low temperature use (-80° C to 290° C) and good compatibility with a wide range of plastics, metals and elastomers.

PFPEs manufactured by Solvay Solexis include Fomblin®, Galden®, Fluorolink® as well as H-Galden® hydrofluoroethers (HFPEs). Design factors and reaction variables enable Solvay Solexis to produce Fomblin PFPEs with a wide variety of physical properties. Galden grades are low molecular weight PFPEs used mainly in heat transfer, electronic testing and solvent applications. Fluorolink PFPE grades contain organofunctional end groups to enable condensation reaction with other reactive polymers and to improve interaction with various substrates. H-Galden HFPEs are low MW fluorinated PFPEs capped on both ends with hydrogen. They are used as solvents and heat transfer fluids and have zero ODP and low GWP.

 

In the lubrication field, the use of PFPEs extends well beyond working fluids for vacuum pumps into general industrial engineering, aerospace, semiconductor and transportation industries. Relative to hydrocarbon materials, PFPEs enjoy enhanced thermodynamic stability and kinetic invulnerability stemming from very high C-F, C-C and C-O bond strengths and electronic shielding provided by the fluorine atoms. There is, therefore, a gradual but distinct trend to substitute hydrocarbons and silicones with PFPE lubricants for demanding, long-life applications.