Solvay Aquivion® PFSF Pellets

Solvay Aquivion® perfluorinated sulfonyl fluoride (PFSF) pellets are the first commercially available Short Side Chain (SSC) sulfonyl fluoride precursor resins. They are the only form that can be melt extruded, due to the sulfonyl fluoride group (-SO2F), and then successively converted into their ionic form (-SO3X, X=H/Na/K/Li).

These innovative materials enrich the still scarce industry offerings of melt processable precursor PFSF resins. Molded shapes can actively serve the chemical industry as durable catalytic or ion-exchange materials after their chemical activation.

Solvay Aquivion® perfluorinated sulfonyl fluoride (PFSF) pellets are currently offered in the chemically stabilized or standard forms. 

Aquivion® P87S-SO2F are chemically-stabilized (denoted by the S-suffix) perfluorinated pellets in the sulfonyl fluoride (-SO2F) form that exhibit an Equivalent Weight (EW) of 870 g/eq.  This material is based on the unique Short Side Chain copolymer of Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and Sulfonyl Fluoride Vinyl Ether (SFVE) F2C=CF-O-CF2CF2-SO2F produced by Solvay.  Aquivion® P87S-SO2F resin can be easily melt extruded into a variety of shapes. The extruder should be equipped with a standard three-zone metering screw devoid of barrier or mixing elements. Optimum temperature settings will depend on the configuration of the equipment, but generally range from 200 to 300°C.  Optionally, functional groups in the molded part are then hydrolyzed in baths or wet benches with a heated base (NaOH, KOH etc) reaction which may take minutes or hours, depending on thickness and conditions.  Aquivion® P87S-SO2F can be directly hydrolyzed as described, either completely or only on their outer surface. This will enable functional activity of the sulfonic acid /sulfonyl salt groups for ion-exchange operations or as an acid catalyst.

Aquivion® P98-SO2F are perfluorinated pellets in the sulfonyl fluoride (-SO2F) form that exhibit an Equivalent Weight (EW) of 980 g/eq. This material is based on the unique Short Side Chain copolymer of Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and Sulfonyl Fluoride Vinyl Ether (SFVE) F2C=CF-O-CF2CF2-SO2F produced by Solvay.  Aquivion® P98-SO2F resin can be easily melt extruded into a variety of shapes. The extruder should be equipped with a standard three-zone metering screw devoid of barrier or mixing elements.  Optimum temperature settings will depend on the configuration of the equipment, but generally range from 200 to 300°C.  Optionally, functional groups in the molded part are then hydrolyzed in baths or wet benches with a heated base (NaOH, KOH etc) reaction which may take minutes or hours, depending on thickness and conditions.Aquivion® P98-SO2F can be directly hydrolyzed as described, either completely or only on their outer surface. This will enable functional activity of the sulfonic acid / sulfonyl salt groups for ion-exchange operations or as an acid catalyst.

Like other fluoropolymers, Aquivion PFSA pellets are corrosive in the melt; therefore, all parts having prolonged contact with the melt should be made with corrosion-resistant materials such as Hastelloy®, Inconel®, Monel® or Xaloy®. Chrome or nickel plating is not recommended since they are typically only sufficient for brief processing tests.

Aquivion® PFSF resins' shorter side chain makes it possible to achieve either better mechanical properties at the same IEC (ion-exchange capacity) or a higher ion exchange capacity (IEC) at the same mechanical properties than long side chain resin based polymers (LSC).  The side chain comparison of Short Side Chain (SSC) and Long Side Chain (LSC) hydrolyzed PFSF resins from a chemical composition perspective is provided below.