Perfluorinated compounds

A perfluorinated compound (PFC) per- or polyfluoroalkyl chemical is an organofluorine compound containing only carbon-fluorine bonds (no C-H bonds) and C-C bonds but also other heteroatoms. PFCs have properties that represent a blend of fluorocarbons (containing only C-F and C-C bonds) and the parent functionalized organic species. For example, perfluorooctanoic acid functions as a carboxylic acid but with strongly altered surfactant and hydrophobic characteristics. Fluorosurfactants are ubiquitously used in teflon, water resistant textiles and fire-fighting foam.

A perfluorinated compound (PFC) is an organofluorine compound containing only carbon-fluorine bonds, C-C bonds and other heteroatoms (no C-H bonds). PFCs have properties that represent a blend of fluorocarbons (containing only C-F and C-C bonds) and the parent functionalized organic species.Fluorosurfactants powerfully reduce surface tension by concentrating at the liquid-air interface due to the lipophobicity of fluorocarbons. This is due to the polar functional group added to the fluorocarbon chain. Elements commonly incorporated into fluorocarbon based compounds include oxygen, such as in the carboxyl group present in some flourosurfactants, and chlorine, in chlorofluorocarbons, which were formerly used as refrigerants and are implicated in ozone degradation.

Perfluorinated compounds are used ubiquitously: For example, fluorosurfactants are widely used in the production of teflon and related fluorinated polymers. They have been used to confer hydrophobicity, stain-resistance to fabrics and as fire-fighting foam.

...
Wikipedia