Latex blends of amorphous perfluorinated polymers and articles derived therefrom

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein latex blend, after agglomeration and drying, has a melting temperature of greater than 310° C., and less than 323° C.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein latex blend, after agglomeration and drying, has an inflection point temperature of at least 500° C. and at most 510° C.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein latex blend, after agglomeration and drying, has at least one recrystallization temperature less than 310° C.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the additional fluorinated monomer is selected from at least one of hexafluoropropylene, and an unsaturated perfluorinated ether selected from the general formula:

• Rf—O—(CF2)mCF═CF2
• wherein m is 0 or 1 and Rf represents a perfluoroalkyl residue containing from at least 1 carbon atoms which may be interrupted by at least one catenated oxygen atom.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles are core-shell particles.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the latex blend comprises at least 5 wt % and no more than 50 wt % of the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles per the amorphous perfluoropolymer based on weight.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein latex blend, after agglomeration and drying, comprises at least 10 to at most 30 wt % of the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the amorphous perfluoropolymer is derived from a perfluoroolefin, and a perfluorovinyl ether, wherein the perfluoroolefin is optionally selected from tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, or combinations thereof, and the perfluorovinyl ether is optionally selected from perfluoro(2-propoxypropyl vinyl) ether (PPVE-2), perfluoro(methyl vinyl) ether (PMVE), perfluoro(ethyl vinyl) ether (PEVE), perfluoro(3-methoxy-n-propyl vinyl) ether (MV-31), perfluoro(2-methoxy-ethyl vinyl) ether, perfluoro(n-propyl vinyl) ether (PPVE-1), perfluoro(n-propyl allyl) ether (MA-3), and F3C—(CF2)2—O—CF(CF3)—CF2—O—CF(CF3)—CF2—O—CF═CF2 (PPVE-3).

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the amorphous perfluoropolymer comprises a cure site selected from at least one of bromine, iodine, and nitrile.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the at least one additional fluorinated monomer is a nitrile-containing perfluorinated vinyl ether.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the latex blend composition is substantially free of metal.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles have a standard specific gravity of at most 2.185.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein the amorphous perfluoropolymer latex comprises particles of amorphous perfluoropolymer having an average particle diameter of at least 50 nm to at most 200 nm.

The latex blend of any one of the previous claims, wherein latex blend, after agglomeration and drying, comprises less than 1000 ppb of a C8-C14 fluorinated emulsifier based on the weight of the fluoropolymer.

A method of making a homogeneous perfluoropolymer blend, the method comprising:

• blending an amorphous perfluoropolymer latex with an aqueous dispersion of semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles comprise a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer comprising no more than 1 wt % of at least one additional fluorinated monomer, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles (i) have a melt flow index (372° C. with 2.16 kg) of less than 50 g/10 min or (ii) are not melt processible and have an SSG of less than 2.200, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles have an average diameter greater than 100 nm;
• and
• coagulating the blend.

A curable perfluoropolymer composition comprising a homogeneous blend of (i) an amorphous perfluoropolymer latex and (ii) an aqueous dispersion of semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles comprise a TFE copolymer comprising no more than 1 wt % of at least one additional fluorinated monomer, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles (a) have an MFI (372° C. with 2.16 kg) of less than 50 g/10 min or (b) are not melt processible and have an SSG of less than 2.200, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles have an average diameter greater than 100 nm.

A cured perfluorinated elastomer comprising a perfluoropolymer filled with semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles comprise a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer comprising no more than 1 wt % of a second fluorinated monomer, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles (i) have a melt flow index (372° C. with 2.16 kg) of less than 50 g/10 min or (ii) are not melt processible and have an SSG of less than 2.200, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles have an average diameter greater than 100 nm.

A cured perfluorinated elastomer filled with semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles comprise a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer comprising no more than 1 wt % of a second fluorinated monomer, wherein the semi crystalline fluoropolymer particles (i) have a melt flow index (372° C. with 2.16 kg) of less than 50 g/10 min or (ii) are not melt processible and have an SSG of less than 2.200, wherein the filled cured perfluorinated elastomer has a melting point of at least 310 to 350° C., and a recrystallization point of less than 300° C.