THERMOPROCESSABLE FLUOROPOLYMERS: HIGH PERFORMANCE MATERIALS FOR OILFIELD APPLICATIONS

摘要

In this paper, a description of the following fluoropolymers supplied by SOLVAY SOLEXIS is presented: HALAR~® ECTFE (copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoethylene), HYFLON~® PFA and MFA (copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and perfuoroalkoxyvinylethers) SOLEF~® & HYLAR PVDF are herein described as an opportunity for applications in the offshore oil and gas production where the conditions of extraction are becoming more severe (higher temperatures and pressure in deeper wells, harsher environments). These fluoropolymers can represent a solution for new increasing needs in applications like i.e. umbilicals, flexible pipes, down-hole cables and any other type of application where high thermal rating, outstanding chemical resistance and excellent electrical properties are required. Among these products, the best combination of these performances can be identified case by case. The perfluoropolymers HYFLON~® PFA and MFA show a wider chemical resistance and better thermal endurance than the partially fluorinated polymer HALAR~® ECTFE while, on the other side, the latter can offer better mechanical properties and abrasion resistance. SOLEF~® PVDF is perhaps the most well known and used fluoropolymer in the Offshore Industry however the highly demanding performance required for the materials in oil and gas extraction applications offer new challenges and is leading to the design of a new generation PVDF products. The key parameters of the polymers are identified and propositions to resolve this equation are proposed in this paper.