Perfluoroisobutylene

Synonyms

PFIB; Isobutene, octafluoro-; Octafluoro-sec-butene; Octafluoroisobutylene; 1-Propene, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-; [ChemIDplus] 1,1,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-2-trifluoromethyl-1-propene; [ICSC] Octafluoroisobutene; [HSDB]

Category

Pyrolysis Products

Description

Colorless gas; [ICSC] Colorless gas that is a colorless liquid when stored under its own pressure; [SynQuest Laboratories MSDS]

Sources/Uses

A decomposition product of Teflon (R) when heated to about 425 degrees C; [ICSC] Used for etching in semiconductor fabrication and to make polymeric materials; [HSDB]

Comments

Heating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to approximated 425 degrees C releases this toxic gas as a thermal degradation product. The 3 minute LC50 value for rats, rabbits, and mice ranges from 61 to 183 ppm. Poisoned animals have pulmonary and renal hemorrhages. Surviving animals recovered fully and showed no long-term ill effects. [ACGIH] Teflon is the brand name for PTFE. Inhalation of perfluoroisobutylene in high concentrations can cause pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and death. [ICSC] PFIB is one of the pulmonary agents that could be used as chemical weapons. It is 10 times more toxic than phosgene. [Weinstein, p. 134] Cough, chest pain, dyspnea, fever, and delayed pneumonitis and pulmonary edema have been reported in humans following acute inhalation exposure; [HSDB] Many military vehicles are lined with Teflon (R) and may release PFIB in a fire; [DOD] Extremely toxic by inhalation (pulmonary edema); Evaporating liquid may cause frostbite; [SynQuest Laboratories MSDS] See "Polymer fume fever" in Diseases.

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

Yes

0.01 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 0.5 ppm/6hr

Explanatory Notes

LC50 (rat) = 17 ppm/10min; 1.05 ppm/2hr; [HSDB]

Not appropriate

0.1 ppm

0.3 ppm

Yes

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Pneumonitis, toxic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Semiconductor Manufacturing