Fluoropolymers and methods of applying fluoropolymers in molding processes
AssigneeClemson University
InventorsDennis W. Smith, Hiren V. Shah, John Ballato, Stephen Foulger
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Abstract
Fluoropolymers consisting of alternating perfluorocyclobutane and aryl ether linkages possess suitable properties for optical waveguides and other devices using refractive properties of the polymers. Perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) polymers having aryl groups alternating on an ether chain have shown useful physical properties for optical waveguide applications. Processes for micromolding such polymeric films by replicating a pattern or image directly from a silicon master, rather than from a polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) mold, are disclosed.
Claims23
A method of making a perfluorocyclobutane film comprising:
- providing a patterned silicon master template;
- providing a composition comprising material selected from the group consisting of trifluorovinyl aromatic ethers, poly-aryl ethers containing perfluorocyclobutyl linkages, and mixtures thereof;
- casting the composition directly onto the silicon master template;
- curing the composition to form a perfluorocyclobutane polymer film;
- and
- lifting the perfluorocyclobutane polymer film off of the silicon master template.
A method of making a molded perfluorocyclobutane film comprising:
- providing a patterned silicon master template;
- providing a composition comprising poly-aryl ether containing perfluorocyclobutyl linkages having the structural formula
- wherein x and y each are greater than or equal to 1, respectively,
- wherein z is greater than or equal to 2;
- casting the composition directly onto the silicon master template;
- curing the composition to form a perfluorocyclobutane polymer film;
- and
- lifting the perfluorocyclobutane polymer film off of the silicon master template.
A method of making a molded perfluorocyclobutane film comprising:
- providing a patterned silicon master template;
- providing a composition comprising a perfluorocyclobutane copolymer having the structural formula
- wherein Ar is not equal to Ar′,
- wherein x and y each are greater than or equal to 1, respectively,
- wherein z is greater than or equal to 2;
- casting the composition directly onto the silicon master template;
- curing the composition to form a perfluorocyclobutane polymer film;
- and
- lifting the perfluorocyclobutane polymer film off of the silicon master template.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.