Abstract: The present invention is a fluoropolymer comprising a plurality of pendent groups terminating in —CF2SO3X, —CF2SO2F, or combinations thereof, where X is selected from a group consisting of H+ and a monovalent cation, and at least one —CF2Y end group, where Y is selected from a group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a nitrile group, and an —SO3X group.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising a fluorocarbon polymer, a radical initiator, and a first curing co-agent. The first curing co-agent comprises at least one silicon-containing group selected from a hydrocarbyl silane and a hydrocarbyl silazane. Furthermore, the first curing co-agent is substantially free of siloxane groups and comprises at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group. Also provided are the reaction product of these compositions and a method of making an elastomer comprising curing these compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorinated surfactant having the general formula: [Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]n—R-G??(I) wherein Rf represents a partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen atoms, Q is CF3 or F, R is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group, G represents a carboxylic or sulphonic acid or salt thereof, t is 0 or 1 and n is 1, 2 or 3. The surfactant is particularly useful in polymerizing fluorinated monomers in an aqueous emulsion polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a fluoropolymer comprising: (i) providing an aqueous dispersion of fluoropolymer particles by polymerizing one or more fluorinated olefins and optionally one or more fluorinated or non-fluorinated comonomers in an aqueous emulsion polymerization whereby the polymerization is initiated in the absence of a fluorinated surfactant and whereby no fluorinated surfactant is added during polymerization; (ii) recovering the fluoropolymer from the aqueous dispersion thereby obtaining said fluoropolymer and waste water; and (iii) contacting said waste water with an anion exchange resin; or alternatively to steps (ii) and (iii), contacting said aqueous dispersion with an anion exchange resin and subsequently separating said anion exchange resin from said aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: A method for removing a fluorinated carboxylic acid or salt thereof from an aqueous liquid by contacting the aqueous liquid with adsorbent particles.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of fluorinated carboxylic acid or derivative thereof from adsorbent particles on which fluorinated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof is adsorbed. The process includes contacting the adsorbent particles with a liquid composition capable of removing at least part of the fluorinated carboxylic acid or salt thereof from the adsorbent particles. The fluorinated carboxylic acid or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated carboxylic acids or salts thereof that correspond to the general formula: [RfO-L-COO?]iXi+??(I) wherein L represents a linear partially or fully fluorinated alkylene group or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, Rf represents a linear partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group or a linear partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group interrupted with one or more oxygen atoms, Xi? represents a cation having the valence i and i is 1, 2 or 3.

Abstract: A process for recovering a fluorinated carboxylic acid or salts thereof from exhaust gas streams. The process includes contacting the exhaust gas stream with a composition capable of at least partially removing the fluorinated carboxylic acid or salt thereof from the exhaust gas stream. The fluorinated carboxylic acid or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated carboxylic acids or salts thereof that correspond to the general formula: [Rf—O-L-COO?]iXi+??(I) wherein L represents a linear partially or fully fluorinated alkylene group or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, Rf represents a linear partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group or a linear partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group interrupted with one or more oxygen atoms, Xi+ represents a cation having the valence i and i is 1, 2 or 3.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous emulsion polymerization of fluorinated monomers using perfluoropolyethers of the following formula (I) or (II). In particular, the perfluoropolyether surfactants correspond to formula (I) or (II) CF3—(OCF2)m—O—CF2—X??(I) wherein m has a value of 1 to 6 and X represents a carboxylic acid group or salt thereof, CF3—O—(CF2)3—(OCF(CF3)—CF2)z—O-L-Y??(II) wherein z has a value of 0, 1, 2 or 3, L represents a divalent linking group selected from —CF(CF3)—, —CF2— and —CF2CF2— and Y represents a carboxylic acid group or salt thereof. The invention further relates to an aqueous dispersion of a fluoropolymer having the aforementioned perfluoropolyether surfactant(s).

Abstract: A method of making a fluoropolymer dispersion by first providing a fluoropolymer dispersion comprising fluoropolymer particles and one or more fluorinated surfactants selected from fluorinated carboxylic acids or salts thereof having the general formula: [Rf—O-L-COO?]iXi+??(I) wherein L represents a linear partially or fully fluorinated alkylene group or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, Rf represents a linear partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group or a linear partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group interrupted with one or more oxygen atoms, Xi+ represents a cation having the valence i and i is 1, 2 or 3; Then adding one or more non-fluorinated surfactants selected from anionic and non-ionic surfactants followed by reducing the total amount of the one or more fluorinated surfactants to an amount of not more than 500 ppm, for example not more than 250 ppm based on the total weight of the dispersion while maintaining or increasing the amount of solids in the dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a fluoropolymer comprising an aqueous emulsion polymerization of one or more fluorinated monomers wherein said aqueous emulsion polymerization is carried out in the presence of an oligomer that comprises one or more ionic groups, has a partially fluorinated backbone, a number average molecular weight of not more than 2000 g/mol and that has a combination of repeating units different from that of the fluoropolymer that is being produced by the polymerization of said one or more fluorinated monomers. Since the polymerization of the one or more fluorinated monomers to produce the desired fluoropolymer is carried out in the presence of the oligomer, the resulting dispersion will contain the oligomer in addition to the fluoropolymer. Thus, in a further aspect, the invention relates to an aqueous dispersion of a fluoropolymer comprising the oligomer.

Abstract: The present invention is a fluoropolymer comprising a plurality of pendent groups terminating in —CF2SO3X, —CF2SO2F, or combinations thereof, where X is selected from a group consisting of H+ and a monovalent cation, and at least one —CF2Y end group, where Y is selected from a group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a nitrile group, and an —SO3X group.

Abstract: A fluoropolymer having pendant amidoxime groups, pendant amidrazone groups, or combinations thereof is provided. Also provided are methods of making such fluoropolymers, and compositions and articles containing such fluoropolymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluoropolymer comprising repeating units derived from one or more gaseous fluorinated olefins and having one or more cure sites comprising (a) a halogen capable of participating in a peroxide cure reaction or (b) a nitrile group, said fluoropolymer further comprising repeating units derived from one or more fluorinated allyl ethers of the formula: CF2?CF—CF(Z)—O—Rf??(I) wherein Z represents F or CF3 and Rf represents a fluorinated alkyl group that may contain one or more catenary oxygen atoms. The fluoropolymer can be cured to a fluoroelastomer. The invention also relates to a curable fluoroelastomer composition comprising the fluoropolymer and a curing agent.

Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of fluoropolymers having fluorosulfonyl groups are hydrolyzed to form dispersions of ionic fluoropolymers by addition of base.

Abstract: Anionic species are removed from aqueous dispersions of ionic fluoropolymers using anion exchange resins. In some embodiments, cationic species are also removed using cation exchange resins.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a crosslinked polymer electrolyte, typically in the form of a membrane for use as a polymer electrolyte membrane in an electrolytic cell such as a fuel cell, as well as the polymer so made, the method comprising application of electron beam radiation to a highly fluorinated fluoropolymer comprising: a backbone derived in part from tetrafluoro-ethylene monomer, first pendent groups which include a group according to the formula —SO2X, where X is F, Cl, Br, OH or —O?M+, where M+ is a monovalent cation, and second pendent groups which include Br, Cl or I. Typically, the membrane has a thickness of 90 microns or less, more typically 60 or less, and most typically 30 microns or less.

Abstract: A method is provided for aqueous emulsion co-polymerization of two or more fluoromonomers comprising the steps of: 1) forming an aqueous pre-emulsion by mixing a fluoromonomer according to formula I: F2C?CF—R1—SO2X??(I) wherein R1 is a branched or unbranched perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkoxy or perfluoroether group comprising 1-15 carbon atoms and 0-4 oxygen atoms and wherein X is F, Cl or Br, together with 0.001-0.9 molar equivalents of a base, in the absence of added emulsifier; and 2) reacting the pre-emulsion with one or more perfluorinated comonomers in the absence of added emulsifier so as to form a fluoropolymer latex comprising a fluoropolymer wherein more than 1 mol % of monomer units are derived from the fluoromonomer according to formula I. In another aspect, the present invention provides a fluoropolymer derived from the fluoropolymer latex made according to the method of the present invention which is free of added emulsifier.