The Role ofFluoropolymers inConsumer Electronics
and Communicationsfor Smart Cities

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The Role of Fluoropolymers in Consumer Electronics and Communications for Smart Cities

Empowering Society by Merging Our Technology
and Environment
As the world’s population grows, resources become
limited. In places like cities—where career, education,and cultural opportunities attract many people already—further congestion can make day-to-day logistics feel
cumbersome and inefficient.
Fortunately, smart electronics and communications
devices have helped increase people’s access to tools
and services, inform more efficient decisions, and keeppeople connected while physically away from their social
circles. Since these devices help organize, connect, andstreamline aspects of people’s lives, it only makes sense
to merge them with the enriched epicenters in cities.
Making cities more adaptive to the people in them isnecessary since experts estimate that 68% of the world’s
growing population will live in urban areas by 2050.
This introduces the idea of a Smart City, where buildings,
cars, appliances, and infrastructure connect andcommunicate like smart devices. This expansion of theInternet of Things (IoT), or the number of connected
devices, will help influence and enhance the performanceand logistics of urban life. It’s no longer a futurethinking aspiration and is more of a realistic feat, as thenetwork needed to support Smart City bandwidth, 5G
connectivity, is on the horizon.
Societal Benefits of the IoT, 5G, and Smart Cities
For a Smart City to truly be interconnected, it depends
on fast mobile wireless networks,the latest in-building
wireless technologies, and a network that can process
and store millions of pieces of data at a type. That data
will be generated by a vast network of IoT devices—
whether it’s a cell phone, kitchen appliance, traffic lightsensor, or remote medical device. Analysts believe thatwe’ll see over 26 billion connected devices globally³ by
2020.
These networks and devices will collect and analyze
data that can help improve societal safety, health, andefficiency. Smart Cities have many ways to apply this data
and make major improvements for people’s wellbeing andgeneral productivity, such as:
Making safer environments:• Prevent building catastrophes by monitoring thestructural health of buildings, bridges, and monuments• Provide increased security by accessing restricted
areas and finding people in these nonauthorized areas• Increase travel safety by monitoring climate and2

weather conditions affecting roads or traffic
Contributing to good health:• Measure air quality and pollution by identifying things
like forest fires, increased radiation levels, and waterquality• Improve wellness at work by adapting lighting toconditions
Saving money, time, and other resources:• Reduce energy waste by measuring energy radiatedfrom cell stations or WiFi routers• Make commuting more efficient by monitoring traffic
congestion and recommending alternate routes• Monitor sound in public spaces or centric zones in realtime• Increase efficiency of waste disposal by managing
waste along trash collection routes• Automate building environmental systems to conserve
energy• Save on utilities by tracking home energy automation
systems and consumption
The International Data Corporation (IDC) reports that
Smart City spending will increase to $135B by 2021¹.
The market is expected to include 600 global cities
and generate 60% of the world’s GDP by 2025². The
market alone reflects the world’s expectations for Smart
City potential and their ability to deliver meaningful andsustainable solutions for society through data-driven
decision-making.
A Closer Look at How Smart Cities Work
Understanding Smart Cities and why they’re demand isrising starts by understanding the many industries andapplications that make them work.
First off, Smart Cities use sensors, actuators, cables, andother technologies to connect components throughout
a city—from up in the air to below the streets. Sensors
gather information, cables transfer the information, andactuators use the information to complete an action. Aperson could also be on the receiving end of information,gathering insights that help them act to make their city abetter place to live and work.
While this description sounds overly simple, the logisticalapplications themselves are highly sophisticated. Sensors
will gather specialized information; one specific example
being travel or traffic related data. With this information,
people can learn about real-time public transit informationTeflon™ Brands

The Role of Fluoropolymers in Consumer Electronics and Communications for Smart Citiesand predicted maintenance ontransportation infrastructure.
Various types of actuators andmicrochips can control intelligent
traffic signals, direct autonomous
ride-sharing vehicles or microtransit buses, and guide smart
parking.
While data-driven decisions
between machines is appealing,
there are still several data-driven
decisions people can makewith ample Smart City data. A
primary example is in security
and law enforcement. Officials
can improve their cities’ security
using that same interconnected
technology for predictive policing,real-time crime mapping, gunshotdetection, smart surveillance,
emergency response optimization,
disaster early-warning systems,
personal alert applications, home
security systems, data-driven
building inspections, and crowd
management⁵.
Critical Smart City Applications That Depend on
High-Performance Materials
A nearly endless list of possibilities exist for Smart Cities,
but the technology and infrastructure that support themmust be composed of efficient, durable, and reliablematerials to perform at a satisfactory level for people.
Fluoropolymers enable the materials—which make up
sensors, cables, and actuators—to function as expected.
Office Space
The workplace of the future demands high-speed
Ethernet cabling, Wi-Fi networks, and data centers that
support The Cloud. Fluoropolymers support the highbandwidth and extreme performance requirements oftoday’s networks through jacketing and linings for cabling
and wiring.
Cell Towers
As 5G networks come online globally, high-performance
fluoropolymers support high speed/high-frequency
communications in 5G radio heads. Fluoropolymer resinsand coatings ensure that communications equipment—from cell towers to distributed antenna systems tothe cabling that connects them—achieve the speeds,capacity, and low latency that 5G protocol requires.

Mobile Phones
Today’s mobile phones are pocket-sized supercomputerswith more power than the computer that landed Apollo
11 on the moon (that same computer had 1,300 times
less processing power than the iPhone 5s). High purity,high performance fluoropolymers are a critical component
in the powerful semiconductor chips and advanced
USB cables in 21st century advanced mobile device
technologies.
Wearable Devices
Smart devices have been made more accessible andmore convenient with wearable technology. Wearables
won’t stop at watches; we can expect new variations inother forms of apparel in the future. Fluoropolymers usedin sensor technology and chip miniaturization advance theperformance and reliability of wearable devices.
Smart Lighting and Building Controls
Buildings have evolved to become a network ofconnected systems that learn from each other andadapt to maximize energy efficiency. The performanceand reliability of fluoropolymers have revolutionized
how technologies, such as smart lighting systems andenvironmental controls, are connected, managed, andpowered.

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The Role of Fluoropolymers in Consumer Electronics and Communications for Smart Cities

Fluoropolymers: Connected to Consumer Electronics
and Communications
Smart Cities depend on information and communication
technology (ICT) to meet operational demands. Whenthe right fluoropolymer resins and materials are used,
ICTs operate more reliably and efficiently. Fluoropolymer
resins and coatings are used in the manufacture of cables,chips, processors, and sensors, data/telecom/LAN cables,
extruded and wrapped cable insulation, and connectors.
This wide range of components is used in many different
technologies, which fluoropolymers enable and enhance inmany ways:Sensors in Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD)
As consumer electronics continue to shrink, RTD coatedwith fluoropolymers are enabled with high dielectricstrength and protection against temperature fluctuations
and corrosion. This construction enables these devices toreliably transmit data faster.

Data Communications
These special types of cables are used in phones,
internet, cable television, and computer networks.
Ordinary wires aren’t equipped to handle the high-power
consumption and high frequencies of 5G radios and cells.
Fluoropolymer resins increase 5G reliability by insulating
and protecting cables from fire and heat and allowing for
quick data transmission and flexibility.
Sensors, Silicon Wafers, and Filters
Fluoropolymer resins and coatings prevent contaminationand offer temperature and pressure resistance in the
manufacture of semiconductors with higher tolerances topower AI, robotics, and 5G infrastructure.
Chips and Processors
Servers that analyze data, sensors, and other embedded
devices used in chips and processors, rely on thecharacteristics inherent in fluoropolymers, which offer
durability, require less power, and aren’t bothered by theshrinking sizes. Manufacturing requires high purity without
contamination and high yield. Fortunately, the rightfluoropolymers ensure that purity remains and impacts
the effectiveness of the final product.
Printed Circuit Boards
Nearly every element involved in a Smart City’s
technology relies on printed circuit boards (PCB),
especially as tens of billions of devices connect to IP
networks. Manufacturing multi-layer PCBs with highquality fluoropolymers will help ensure purity during
fabrication, eliminate cross-talk when operating at highfrequencies, and enable reliable performance in hightemperature ranges.
Cabling
Smart Cities use cabling everywhere to connect
antennae, sensors, data centers, and other IoT devices
to networks and the cloud. Now, cabling is expected tocarry much greater volumes of data at higher data rates⁹.
LAN cables must meet many specifications and comply
with codes for fire safety and performance, including
resistance, capacitance, crosstalk, return loss, andpropagation delay as set forth by the Electronic Industries
Association/Telecommunications Industry Association(TIA/EIA). Twinax cable featuring fluoropolymers has
become the cable of choice in the high speed datacenters for the back panels
Fluoropolymer resins are engineered and manufactured
for use in extreme environments and conditions, with arange of melt flow index, low friction, particle size, melting

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The Role of Fluoropolymers in Consumer Electronics and Communications for Smart Cities

point, stress, and flex life. Their inertness, high chemicalstability, electrical properties, and weatherability makethem excellent for use in high speed wire insulation andcable jacketing. They work well in wire insulation/cablejacketing applications that require low flammabilityand smoke emissions, high stress-crack resistance,
extreme chemical resistance, extended thermal cycling
capabilities, and best-in-class dielectric properties.
Cables made with poor quality fluoropolymer resins
can crack or break, taking down a critical link or causing
electrical/crosstalk interference that affects the data
link’s quality. Any imperfections that might result from a
low-rated fluoropolymer resin can potentially introduce
structural or electrical problems.
Antennae
These tools collect and share data while providing
conduits for data flow throughout a Smart City. As theworld completes its transition to 5G technology—a key
enabler of innovative Smart City applications and uses—
antennae will play an even greater role in facilitating thatconnectivity.
These networks are bringing faster speeds and denser
small cell deployments to account for distance limitations
with millimeter wave technology and ultra-low latency
applications¹⁰. 5G technology offers increases inbandwidth and coverage ubiquity to drive innovations—but it will rely on cables for transporting data to and fromthe rest of city networks¹¹.
Fluoropolymers: Helping to Tie Smart CityInfrastructure Together
Fluoropolymers are integral components in themanufacture of antennae, circuit boards, mobile devices,building wire, and cables for LAN networks and so muchmore. Infrastructural nodes (or links) that exchange datawith autonomous vehicles, urban systems, public transit,
healthcare and social services, and municipal processes
depend on infrastructure build with fluoropolymers.
Embedded sensors, cameras and beacons, networked
smartphones and operating systems that link everything
together for unprecedented efficiency and connectivity
rely on materials and fluoropolymers’ chemical inertness,dielectric properties, wide temperature ranges, andstability through the manufacturing process to operate at
the highest levels so that they can deliver the maximum
benefits to smart city residents and visitors.

What Differentiates Teflon™ Fluoropolymers From
Other Brands
Over the past 80+ years, we’ve improved upon thepolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer discovered byDuPont scientist Dr. Roy Plunkett, and developed a whole
portfolio of Teflon™ fluoropolymers that fulfill multiple
applications in diverse industries. We’ve capitalized on theproperties of fluoropolymers, like their:• Nonstick and friction-reducing properties• Stability that results from multiple carbon-fluorinebonds• Outstanding thermal, electrical, and chemical resistance• Low coefficient of friction• Low melting points and crystallinity• Thermo-physical properties
Smart thinking and engineering expertise continue to fuelour scientists’ curiosity and passion for innovation, making
Teflon™ fluoropolymers the best “ingredient” for thetechnology demands—from IoT to 5G—of smart cities
worldwide.
In the fast-moving and even faster-changing technology
and telecom industries, Chemours has the infrastructure
to support an agile supply chain, expertise for rapid
prototyping, and the flexibility to adapt to updated andaccelerated product development cycles. Driven by thequalities of Teflon™ fluoropolymers—from circuit boards

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The Role of Fluoropolymers in Consumer Electronics and Communications for Smart Cities

to antennae, wireless charging solutions to AR/VR
applications—we’re ready to support rapid development.

on Teflon™ fluoropolymers because of their diverse
characteristics which include:

Smart cities require modular and scalable technology
infrastructure. We’ve prepared Teflon™ fluoropolymers
to support the processes that combine technology into
an interface with smart city services that will transformpeople’s lives, increase efficiency, and improve the qualityof life through interconnectivity.

• Electrical properties: Teflon™ coatings, films, and resins
exhibit very low dielectric and dissipation factors thatprovide superior signal insulation to data transmission
networks.

About Teflon™ Fluoropolymers
From developing technology and a growing market
demand for more sustainable, higher performing products
to evolving customer needs, Teflon™ fluoropolymers
enable businesses to innovate and bring value tocustomers.
A wide range of industries—aerospace, automotive,communications, industrial manufacturing, consumer
electronics, cookware and bakeware, energy, foodprocessing, medical, military, and semiconductors—rely• Nonstick properties: Very few solids stick permanently
to Teflon™ industrial coatings. Nearly all substances
release easily—important for commercial foodpreparation, chemical processing, and otherapplications.
• Chemical resistance: Teflon™ coatings, films, and resins
impart permeation resistance, important for many manyindustries that require high-purity environments.
• Non-wetting properties: Teflon™ coatings, films, andresins are hydrophobic (water resistant) and oleophobic(oil resistant)—critical properties for textiles and otherapplications that must remain dry or contaminant-free.
• Corrosion resistance: Teflon™ fluoropolymers perform
well in corrosive environments, like offshore drillingand chemical processing, to protect components fromdamage caused by oxidization and other chemical
reactions.

6For more products and information, visit Teflon.com or call a Teflon™ fluoropolymer expert: https://www.teflon.com/en/contact
The information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and based on technical data that Chemours believes to be reliable. Chemours makes no warranties, express or implied, and assumes no liability inconnection with any use of this information. Nothing herein is to be taken as a license to operate under or a recommendation to infringe any patents or trademarks.

©2020 The Chemours Company FC, LLC. Teflon™ and any associated logos are trademarks or copyrights of The Chemours Company FC, LLC. Chemours™ and the Chemours Logo aretrademarks of The Chemours Company.
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