Solvay Solexis fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers are ideal for use in the oil and gas industry due to their good mechanical properties and excellent chemical resistance to a wide variety of organic and inorganic chemicals, even at elevated temperatures.
Oil field applications include shock tubing, encapsulated injection tubing, coated rod, and coated control cables. The tough, resistant Halar® ECTFE fluoropolymer coating extends the life of many down-hole components in harsh well environments. Down-hole cables are also constructed of Halar ECTFE and Hyflon® PFA. Solvay Research & Development Unit developed a special plasticized Solef® PVDF (1015/0078) designed for flexibility, thermal and chemical resistance and toughness. Further development has led to Solef® 60512, a flexible copolymer (without plasticizer) that has allowed increased reliability in flexible flow lines manufacture and performance.
The Tecnoflon® family of fluoroelastomers offers a variety of grades tough enough to withstand the rigors of the oil field. Tecnoflon® Bisphenol Cured fluoroelastomers (FKMs) provide excellent resistance to heat, oils, fuels, and acids with outstanding compression set resistance. Tecnoflon® Peroxide Cured FKMs deliver improved chemical and high temperature steam resistance. Tecnoflon® Base Resistant grade BR 9151 offers excellent resistance to bases, hydrogen sulfide, amines, steam, oils, and fuels including those with aromatic fractions. Tecnoflon®VPL 85540 offers low temperature flexibility to -40°C with methanol and hydrocarbon resistance. The ultimate in chemical and heat performance are Tecnoflon® PFR perfluoroelastomers (FFKMs). They are resistant to nearly every chemical class with some grades offering heat resistance in excess of 300° C.