| abstract |
Fluoropolymer foams are prepared by mixing fluoropolymer resin with blowing agents and additives to produce foamable compounds at temperatures below the activation temperature of the blowing agent. The compounded material is expanded at temperatures above both the softening point of the fluoropolymer resin and the activation temperature of the blowing agent. The resulting fluoropolymer foam can be fabricated into any desired shape, such as pipes, sheets, tapes, blocks and rods, using techniques such as cutting, welding, thermoforming and adhesive bonding. Alternatively the fluoropolymer compound may be expanded directly into the desired shape, for example, by expanding the compound in a mold. |