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More environmentally friendly alternatives to PFOS-compounds and PFOA
Appendix A Fluorine-containing substances – Terminology and definitions
Fluorochemical
A general, non-specific, term used for a broad description of all chemicals containing the element fluorine. Specifically, the term is used most commonly to describe small (1-8 carbon length) fluorinated
molecules, which are most often used for refrigeration, as fire suppression agents and as specialty solvents.
Fluorinated chemical
A general, non-specific term used synonymously with "fluorochemical".
Fluorotelomer
A specific term used to describe an oligomer created by reaction of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with perfluoroethyl iodide CF3CF2I to produce F(CF2CF2)n-I [n = 3-6, avg. 4], a linear, even carbon number
chain length oligomer; the term "telomer" is often used synonymously with fluorotelomer.
Fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH)
A general term which describes a class of alcohols of the general structure F(CF2CF2)nCH2CH2OH, where n is an integer.
Fluoropolymer
A general term used to describe a polymer which has fluorine attached to the majority of carbon atoms which comprise the polymer chain backbone. Common fluoropolymers are: polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), etc. These are typically high molecular weight polymers used in high performance applications where chemical resistance and
thermal stability are essential.
Fluorinated (organic) polymer
A general term used to describe a polymer which has a hydrocarbon backbone (polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, etc.) to which a fluorinated carbon chain is appended, also known as a fluorinated alkyl
chain; an example would be a polymer such as -[CH2CH(C(=O)OCH2CH2(CF2)8F)]n-.
Perfluoro- / perfluorinated
Describes specifically a substance where all hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms are replaced with fluorine atoms – CFn..
Perfluoroalkylated substance (PFAS)
A general term, which describes a substance that bears a perfluorocarbon unit F(CF2)n-R where n is an integer and R is not a halogen, or hydrogen. Examples include F(CF2)6CH2CH2OH,
F(CF2)6SO2N(CH3)CH2CH2OH, and p-F(CF2)6-C6H4OH.
Fluorosurfactant
A non-specific, general term used to describe a surface active, low molecular weight (<1000), substance where carbons bear fluorine in place of hydrogen. Examples would include CF3(CF2)7SO3-K+,
H(CF2)7COO-NH4+, F(CF2CF2)3CH2CH2SO3-NH4+, CH3CH2CF2CF2CH2COO-NH4+, etc.
Perfluorocarboxylic acid (PFCA)
A general term which describes a class of fully fluorinated carboxylic acids and their salts of the general structure F(CF2)n-COOX (X = H, NH4+, Group I alkali metal, Group II alkaline earth). These are
generally manufactured by the electrochemical fluorination process or from fluorotelomer-based raw materials. The most common industrially used fluoropolymer polymerization aids are: ammonium
perfluorooctanoate (CAS# 3825-26-1) and perfluoro fatty acids, C7-13, ammonium salts (CAS# 72968-3-88).
Polyfluorinated substances
A term for substances with more fluoro-substituents.
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Version 1.0 June 2005, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency
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