Polymer Composition
Fluorocarbon elastomer chemistry provides the structural foundation for AFLAS, a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and propylene that achieves distinct chemical resistance by eliminating hydrogen atoms from the main polymer backbone. Monomer ratios dictate base properties, requiring precise control during emulsion polymerization to maintain consistent crosslinking sites for subsequent vulcanization. Peroxide curing agents initiate free radical reactions that bind polymer chains into a stable three dimensional network, ensuring mechanical integrity under severe thermal exposure.
Thermal Endurance
Continuous operation at high temperatures demands specific compounding strategies, preventing rapid chain scission and oxidative degradation within industrial sealing environments. Temperature limits extend up to two hundred degrees Celsius for extended durations, surpassing standard hydrocarbon rubbers in aggressive fluid streams. Thermal aging causes gradual crosslink density reduction, which manifests as measurable hardness increase and elongation loss over time.
Chemical Resistance
Aqueous amine solutions, steam, and strong mineral acids fail to degrade the material structure, unlike conventional fluoroelastomers that suffer backbone cleavage in basic media. Ester lubricants and sour petroleum fractions contact the seal surfaces without causing volumetric swelling or compound softening. Ester linkages and amide bonds remain unattacked due to the fully fluorinated and methylated carbon sequence shielding the main chain from nucleophilic attack.
Electrical Insulation
Dielectric strength remains stable across wide frequency ranges, permitting reliable deployment in downhole cable protectors and electrical insulation assemblies. Moisture absorption stays below standard thresholds, preventing dielectric breakdown during prolonged subsea immersion. Volume resistivity values maintain performance parameters even when the elastomer experiences severe mechanical compression and thermal cycling.
