Degradation of Perfluoropolyether Fluids With Metal Ions

Chemical degradation of lubricant fluids of perfluoropolyether (PFPE), such as Fomblin Z-DOL, Fomblin AM-2001, Fomblin Z-25, Demnum SP-3, and Demnum SA, with bivalent metal ions was examined. The respective reaction mechanisms involve an ether cleavage process which is caused by the coordination of metal ions with oxygen atoms in the main chains of the PFPE. Metal ions were evaluated for their ability to degrade the PFPE, and the results demonstrate that the ions ranking in terms of this ability is as follows: Cu2+ > Ni2+ > Co2+ > Fe2+ > Mn2+ > Mg2+. This trend can be explained by the ionization potentials of the metal atoms. For an identical metal ion, the Demnum lubricants showed a greater stability than the Fomblin lubricants.