Cellular thermosetting fluoropolymers and process for making them
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorSheng Y. Lee
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Abstract
Thermosetting fluorodiepoxide polymer foams are made by mixing fluid form thermosetting fluorodiepoxide polymer components having a substantial fluorine content, placing the mixture in a pressure tight chamber, filling the chamber with a gas, at relatively low pressure, that is unreactive with the fluorodiepoxide polymer components, allowing the mixture to gel, removing the gelled fluorodiepoxide polymer from the chamber and thereafter heating the fluorodiepoxide polymer at a relatively low temperature to simultaneously cure and foam the fluorodiepoxide polymer. The resulting fluorodiepoxide polymer product is closed celled with the cells storing the gas employed for foaming.
Claims9
A process for making thermosetting fluorodiepoxide polymer foam products including the steps of:
- mixing, in fluid form, thermosetting fluorodiepoxide polymer components, said components having a fluorine content, by weight, of 30% or higher, including a thermosetting fluorodiepoxide polymer resin and a curing agent or a catalyst, or both, which is, or are, effective for curing said resin;
- placing said fluid mixture into a substantially pressure tight chamber;
- filling said chamber with a substantially unreactive gas;
- allowing sufficient time for said mixture to gel, to trap said gas in the resulting fluorodiepoxide polymer;
- relieving the pressure on said gelled polymer;
- heating said fluorodiepoxide polymer;
- to simultaneously cure and foam said fluorodiepoxide polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.