Semi-fluorinated thermoplastic resins with low gel content

A tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer, having an MFI (265/5) of from about 13 to about 30 g/10 min (ASTM), a melting point (ASTM) of from about 170° C. to about 230° C., wherein the tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer is a copolymer comprising more than 52% by weight based on the weight of the polymer of units derived from tetrafluoroethylene and is selected from copolymers comprising interpolymerized units of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene or interpolymerized units of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene, and wherein the tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer is obtainable by a radical aqueous emulsion polymerization in the presence of one or more fluorinated emulsifiers of the general formula

• RfO-L-CO2−X+ (I)
• wherein Rf is selected from a partially or fully fluorinated alkyl group that may optionally be interrupted with one or more oxygen atoms;
• L is selected from a partially or fully fluorinated linear or branched alkylene group that is optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen atoms,
• and X+ represents a cation or H+,
• and one or more fluorinated liquids selected from saturated partially or perfluorinated hydrocarbons which may contain one or more catenary heteroatoms selected from oxygen and/or nitrogen and having a boiling point of greater than 50° C.;
• further wherein the tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer has an Mw/Mn ratio of from about 1.4 up to 1.9;
• and
• the tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer has a gel content of less than 3,000/m2.