Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for polymerizing fluoromonomers in an aqueous medium to form a fluoropolymer, said process comprising the steps of: (a) forming an aqueous solution comprising a first surfactant combination of at least one fluorinated surfactant and at least one non-10 fluorinated surfactant in a polymerization reactor; (b) pressurizing the polymerization reactor with said fluoromonomers; (c) initiating a polymerization reaction of said fluoromonomers to form said fluoropolymer; (d) propagation of said polymerization reaction, wherein a second surfactant combination of at least one fluorinated surfactant and at least one non-fluorinated surfactant is 15 metered or one shot dosed into the polymerization reactor; and (e) termination of said polymerization reaction after consumption of a desired quantity of said fluoromonomers.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing fluoropolymers or fluoroelastomers in an aqueous medium using a non fluorinated sulfonate type hydrocarbon containing surfactant, said process comprising the steps of: (a) forming an aqueous solution comprising an non-fluorinated, hydrocarbon containing, sulfonate anionic type surfactant in a polymerization reactor; (b) pressurizing the reactor with fluoromonomers to form an aqueous emulsion; (c) initiating polymerization of said fluoromonomers; and (d) Propagating the reaction (e) Terminating the reaction after consumption of desired weight of fluoromonomers; wherein the non-fluorinated, hydrocarbon containing, sulfonate type surfactant comprises 18 to 36 carbon atoms, wherein the molecular weight of the fluoropolymer ranges from 1×103 to 9×108 g/mol and wherein said process is devoid of passivating the surfactant.