Products obtained in the fuel-rich combustion of PTFE at high temperature

Thermal degradation of PTFE has been carried out in a horizontal tubular reactor. The influence of the temperature and the reaction atmosphere on the degradation products generated has been studied. Different runs (pyrolysis and fuel rich atmosphere) in the range 750–1050 °C were performed. In pyrolysis runs, only C2F4 and C3F6 as perfluorocarbon compounds were found. Under oxidative conditions, C2F6, C3F6 and CF4 were detected, varying their percentages as a function of temperature and oxygen proportion in the atmosphere. A low percentage of semivolatiles were also analyzed in all the cases studied, although only few fluorinated compounds were identified in this group.