Shin-Etsu Chemical to enter the fluoropolymer business succeeds in mass production of liquid fluoroelastomer for the first time in the world (1999.5.17)
Shin-Etsu Chemical (Headquarters: Tokyo; President: Chihiro Kanagawa) will commence new operations in the area of fluoropolymers. The company has led the world in the development of a liquid fluoroelastomer (product name: Shin-Etsu Sifel) that combines the superior characteristics of silicone and fluorine and becomes softens into a rubbery texture simply when heated. Mass production technology has also been developed and the product will be commercialized from spring this year. Facilities for mass production were completed in the company's Gunma Plant (Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture) in October 1998 and will be further expanded based on demand. The company targets an annual sales turnover of 5 billion yen in three years.
Shin-Etsu Chemical established a "Z Committee" with Mr. Kanagawa as chairman in 1991 with the objective of creating new businesses towards the 21st century. Development work focused on specific research themes and liquid fluoroelastomer is one example of the result of such work. Through the work of the Z Committee, 2 semiconductor related products, photoresist (photosensitive material) and pellicle (dust cover for photomasking), were commercialized in December 1997.
Shin-Etsu Sifel consists of the binding of minute levels of silicon atoms on reactive perfluoroether polymer that internalizes a radically different concept from legacy substances. Fully fluorinated polyether that is chemically highly stable is used as the basic structure of the polymer and the product was realized through development of ultrahigh polymerization technology. To date, 70 related patents have been obtained.
In recent years, fluoropolyether has been ranked highest among synthetic rubbers for functionality and demand has developed significantly as the only available material that exhibits durability in such new environments of use as automobiles, aircraft and semiconductors. However, in order to respond to recent demands for higher performance, compliance with environmental regulations, safety and reliability, even fluoroelastomer did not provide sufficient performance. In particular, the development of a new material that maintains the softness of rubber and with resistance to oil, solvents and chemicals was awaited.
The most important feature of Shin-Etsu Sifel is the fact that it is hybrid material with high performance that exhibits the superior features of silicone and fluorine with characteristics at low temperature and oil, solvent and chemical resistance that complement the weaknesses of both materials and solves the problems internalized in legacy products. Product applications include molding material, functional adhesive with self-adhesion properties, coating materials for surface refining and potting gel foam for protecting electronic parts.
Samples of the products have been delivered to several companies to date with highly positive feedback such as "product design has become easier" and "reliability of products has increased exponentially". As material that with potential of becoming key to the resolution of such issues of the age as preservation of the environment, energy saving and high performance products, application to such areas as automobiles, aircraft, electronic equipment, semiconductors, chemical plants and optics is foreseen.
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