Uses

C9 PFCA is used in the production of fluoropolymers, primarily polyvinylidene fluoride (Prevedouros et al.2006). Based on available information, long-chain (C9-C20) PFCAs are rarely used intentionally in products. Commercially, there are commonly used precursors such as fluorotelomers, e.g., substances derived from fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), or other fluorotelomer-based substances, which can degrade to long-chain (C9-C20) PFCAs. Fluorotelomers are a subgroup of perfluorinated substances that are produced by a process called telomerization, and can occur in a range of fluorocarbon chain lengths. Fluorotelomer alcohols are not fully fluorinated, since they have a 2-carbon hydrocarbon chain linked to the perfluorinated carbon chain. Fluorotelomer epoxides, olefins or alcohols are used as building blocks in the production of fluorotelomer-based substances. These substances provide oil-, grease-, water- and stain-repellent properties to other substrates. Some fluorotelomer-based substances can be further exploited as monomers to generate polymeric fluorotelomer substances with the same characteristic properties.