fluorocarbon

American  

[floor-oh-kahr-buhn, flawr-, flohr-] / ˈflʊər oʊˌkɑr bən, ˈflɔr-, ˈfloʊr- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. any of a class of compounds produced by substituting fluorine for hydrogen in a hydrocarbon, and characterized by great chemical stability: used chiefly as a lubricant, refrigerant, fire extinguishing agent, and in industrial and other applications in which chemical, electrical, flame, and heat resistance is essential; banned as an aerosol propellant in the U.S. because of concern about ozone layer depletion.

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fluorocarbon British  

/ ˌflʊərəʊˈkɑːbən /

noun

1. any compound derived by replacing all or some of the hydrogen atoms in hydrocarbons by fluorine atoms. Many of them are used as lubricants, solvents, and coatings See also Freon polytetrafluoroethylene CFC

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fluorocarbon Scientific  

/ flr′ō-kär′bən /

1. An inert, liquid or gaseous organic compound similar to a hydrocarbon but having fluorine atoms in the place of hydrogen atoms. Fluorocarbons are used in aerosol propellants and refrigerants.

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Etymology

Origin of fluorocarbon

First recorded in 1935–40; fluoro- + carbon

Example Sentences

The expensive fluorocarbon waxes became critical to a racer’s success.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 26, 2022

Some use fluorocarbon leaders as light as 15-pound test to tie their egg leaders.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2016

The best-known fluorocarbon is Freon, a DuPont product.

From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2011

The reason for this resurgence is spreading concern about the fluorocarbon gases used as propellants in aerosol cans.

From Time Magazine Archive

The modern space suit is made of woven lux metal wires of extremely small diameter and airproofed with a rubberoid fluorocarbon plastic, and furnished with air and heating units.

From Islands of Space by Campbell, John Wood