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Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsRalph Kaulbach, Helmut Traunspurger
Estimating the term…
In preparing a fluorinated thermoplastic with good flex life, high thermal conductivity and low average spherolite diameter from tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro n-alkyl vinyl ether, perfluoro 2-propoxyalkyl vinyl ether is additionally incorporated into the fluorinated thermoplastic. A semicrystalline, thermoplastically processable copolymer is prepared, made from units of the tetrafluoroethylene, from 2 to 10% by weight of units of perfluoro n-propyl vinyl ether and from 0.1 to 6% by weight of units of perfluoro 2-propoxypropyl vinyl ether. The novel copolymer preferably contains fewer than 70 unstable end groups per 106 carbon atoms, has thermal conductivity of at least 0.19 W/mK at 23° C. and has a smooth surface with an average spherolite diameter of <5 μm. The novel terpolymer is suitable for extrusion of hose, in particular for heat exchangers, and also for ultrahigh-purity applications.
A thermoplastic, semicrystalline perfluoropolymer comprising repeating units of tetrafluoroethylene in an amount of 84% to 97.9% by weight, between 2 and 10% by weight of repeating units of a first vinyl ether monomer and between 0.1 and 6% by weight of repeating units of a second vinyl ether monomer, wherein said first vinyl ether is a perfluoro n-propylvinyl ether and said second vinyl ether is a perfluoro vinyl ether having the formula:
A thermoplastic, semicrystalline perfluoropolymer having a melting point of at least 285° C. and comprising repeating units of tetrafluoroethylene, repeating units of a first vinyl ether monomer and repeating units of a second vinyl ether monomer, wherein said first vinyl ether is a perfluoro n-propylvinyl ether and said second vinyl ether is a perfluoro vinyl ether having the formula:
An article of a thermoplastic, semicrystalline fluoropolymer having a melting point of at least 285° C. and comprising repeating units of tetrafluoroethylene, repeating units derived from a first vinyl ether monomer and repeating units of a second vinyl ether monomer, wherein said first vinyl ether is a perfluoro n-propylvinyl ether and said second vinyl ether is a perfluoro vinyl ether having the formula:
A process for preparing fluorinated thermoplastics from tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoro n-propylvinyl ether and, if desired, from other fluorinated monomers copolymerizable therewith, which comprises additionally incorporating perfluoro vinyl ether having the formula:
A process for preparing fluorinated thermoplastics from tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoro n-propyl vinyl ether and which comprises additionally incorporating perfluoro 2-propoxypropyl vinyl ether into the fluorinated thermoplastic.
A thermoplastic, semicrystalline perfluoropolymer comprising repeating units of tetrafluoroethylene in an amount of 84 to 96.3% by weight, between about 3.6 and 10% by weight of repeating units of a first vinyl ether monomer and between 0.1 and 6% by weight of repeating units of a second vinyl ether monomer, wherein said first vinyl ether is a perfluoro n-propylvinyl ether and said second vinyl ether is a perfluoro vinyl ether having the formula;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
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Tetrafluoroethene: with fluorinated vinyl ethers
Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
Term ended 28 Aug 2021 (estimated)
The present invention relates to perfluorinated copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro alkyl vinyl ethers. In particular, the present invention relates to copolymers that include a blend of a linear perfluoro alkyl vinyl ether and a branched perfluoro alkyl vinyl ether. The invention further relates to articles produced therefrom and a method of making molded articles using the perfluoro copolymers.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is widely used and is well-known for its excellent mechanical properties combined with chemical inertness, heat resistance, non-flammability, anti-stick properties and exceptional dielectric properties. However, a well-known disadvantage of PTFE is also its extreme high melt viscosity making it unsuitable for melt-processing techniques. As a result, the processing of PTFE into desired shapes or articles requires cumbersome techniques such as sintering.
Accordingly, the art has developed melt-processible perfluoropolymers that can be extruded or molded into shapes and that approach the beneficial properties of PTFE as much as possible. For example, copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) were the first melt processible perfluoropolymers developed. These copolymers, which are known as FEP polymers, however do not have desired heat stability and high temperature properties as may be desired in some applications. A further known type of melt-processible perfluoropolymers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,926 and includes copolymers of TFE and perfluoropropylvinyl ether (PVE). These copolymers are known as PFA (perfluoroalkoxy polymers) and have improved heat stability and high temperature performance.
Abbreviations:
PPVE-1: perfluoro n-propylvinyl ether
PPVE-2: CF3CF2CF2—O—CF(CF3)—CF2—O—CF═CF2