Expandable Functional TFE Copolymer Fine Powder, Expanded Products and Reacted Products Therefrom
AssigneeW.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsPing Xu, Jack J. Hegenbarth, Xin Kang Chen, Rachel Radspinner, Paul D. Drumheller, William B. Johnson, Wen K. Liu
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Abstract
A functional TFE copolymer fine powder is described, wherein the TFE copolymer is a polymer of TFE and at least one functional comonomer, and wherein the TFE copolymer has functional groups that are pendant to the polymer chain. The functional TFE copolymer fine powder resin is paste extrudable and expandable. Methods for making the functional TFE copolymer are also described. The expanded functional TFE copolymer material may be post-reacted after expansion.
Claims11
1-54. (canceled)
A composite membrane comprising:
- a. An expanded polymeric material comprising a functional TFE copolymer material having a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils wherein the TFE copolymer comprises a polymer chain of TFE and at least one comonomer having a functional group that is pendant to the polymer chain;
- and
- b. a material at least partially imbibed into said expanded polymeric material.
An expanded polymeric material comprising a functional TFE copolymer material having a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils wherein the TFE copolymer comprises:
- a) a polymer chain of TFE and at least one comonomer having a functional group that is pendant to the polymer chain;
- and
- b) a filler material.
64-67. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.