Solvay has commercially introduced new grades of fluroelastomer using a new polymerization technique. This new ground-breaking polymerization technology called “Branching & Pseudoliving”, can generate products with properties that cannot be obtained by conventional manufacturing techniques. These high value added materials with an extensive R&D content belong to the top of the range polymer products and are designed for sealing solutions in extreme environments. Their outstanding performance places them in the same pricing category as certain pharmaceutical products or precious metals.

Compared with existing materials used to build fluid handling systems in critical processes, the new Tecnoflon® PFR 45HT perfluoroelastomer offers enhanced high temperature sealing, improved steam resistance and excellent overall chemical resistance. This exceptional reliability is of great importance in chemical and processing industry manufacturing systems, which operate under extreme conditions, and where any imperfection in sealing may cause severe damage. Furthermore, manufacturing processes using this new material can be simplified and still produce high-performance components. These new grades allow processors to improve the environmental reliability of their systems and to reduce shut down times as well as maintenance costs.

The Branching & Pseudoliving technology allows the creation of complex, controlled macromolecular structures. While regular polymerization consists of the stepwise reproduction of a basic monomer molecule to create a simple linear structure, Branching & Pseudoliving is a molecular construction process that can be compared to the ‘growth' of cells in living organisms.