Method of making fluoropolymers
AssigneeThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
InventorJoseph M. DeSimone
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Abstract
A process for making a fluoropolymer is disclosed. The process comprises solubilizing a fluoromonomer in solvent comprising a carbon dioxide fluid, and then polymerizing the fluoromonomer to produce a the fluoropolymer. A preferred solvent for carrying out the process is supercritical carbon dioxide; preferred fluoromonomers for carrying out the process are fluoroacrylate monomers such as 1,1-dihydroperfluorooctyl acrylate. The polymerization step is preferably carried out in the presence of an initiator such as azobisisobutyronitrile.
Claims31
A reaction mixture useful for carrying out the polymerization of a fluoroacrylate monomer, said mixture comprising
- at least one fluoroacrylate monomer;
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid;
- and
- a polymerization initiator capable of initiating the polymerization of said fluoroacrylate monomer.
A reaction mixture useful for carrying out the polymerization of a fluoroalkylene oxide monomer, said mixture comprising:
- at least one fluoroalkylene oxide monomer;
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid;
- and
- a polymerization initiator useful for initiating the polymerization of said fluoroalkylene oxide monomer.
A reaction mixture useful for carrying out the polymerization of a fluorostyrene monomer, said mixture comprising:
- at least one fluorostyrene monomer;
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid;
- and
- a polymerization initiator capable of initiating the polymerization of said fluorostyrene monomer.
A reaction mixture useful for carrying out the polymerization of a fluorinated vinyl ether monomer, said mixture comprising
- at least one fluorinated vinyl ether monomer;
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid;
- and
- a polymerization initiator capable of initiating the polymerization of a fluorinated vinyl ether monomer.
A reaction mixture useful for carrying out the polymerization of a fluoroolefin monomer, said mixture comprising:
- at least one fluoroolefin monomer;
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid;
- and
- a polymerization initiator capable of initiating the polymerization of fluoroolefin monomer.
A single-phase solution comprising:
- a fluoroacrylate polymer;
- and
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid.
A single-phase solution comprising:
- a fluorostyrene polymer;
- and
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid.
A single-phase solution comprising:
- a fluorinated vinyl ether polymer;
- and
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid.
A single-phase solution comprising:
- a fluoroolefin polymer;
- and
- a solvent comprising carbon dioxide fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.