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Durham e-Theses
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Synthesis and Reactions of Viton® Model Compounds

LANCASHIRE, MARCUS,JOHN (2019) Synthesis and Reactions of Viton® Model Compounds. Doctoral thesis, Durham University.

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Abstract

Viton® gaskets and O-ring seals are common components of engines and other industrial systems due to their high thermal and chemical resistances. However, degradation of Viton® seals has been observed when they are exposed to oils containing basic or nucleophilic petroleum additives. These processes are difficult to follow by standard analytical techniques due to Viton® being a high molecular weight polymer. In this project, a series of compounds that model the structural features of Viton® elastomers were synthesised by reaction of perfluoroalkyl iodides with vinylidene fluoride and subsequent capping with antimony pentafluoride.

These Viton® model compounds were subsequently reacted with a range of bases and nucleophiles and the products characterised by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The analysis confirmed that exposure of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) containing Viton® model compounds to basic species (pKa > 10) under relatively mild conditions (temperature ≤ 120 ⁰C, atmospheric pressure) causes dehydrofluorination, synthesising alkenes that can subsequently react with certain nucleophiles such as KOMe and water.

These results indicate that Viton® elastomers are vulnerable to dehydrofluorination on exposure to basic petroleum additives, and to subsequent nucleophilic attack that can lead to unwanted crosslinking of the polymer chains and degradation of seals.

Item Type:Thesis (Doctoral)
Award:Doctor of Philosophy
Keywords:fluorine, Viton®, fluoroalkene, fluoropolymer
Faculty and Department:Faculty of Science > Chemistry, Department of
Thesis Date:2019
Copyright:Copyright of this thesis is held by the author
Deposited On:02 Dec 2019 14:01

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