Abstract: The invention pertains 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 at least one cyclic fluorocompound of the following formula (I): wherein X1, X2, X3, equal or different from each other are independently selected among H, F, and C1-6 (per)fluoroalkyl groups, optionally comprising one or more catenary or non-catenary oxygen atoms; L represents a bond or a divalent group; RF is a divalent fluorinated C1-3 bridging group; Y is a hydrophilic function selected among anionic functionalities, cationic functionalities and non-ionic functionalities.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for the manufacture cola medical implant, said process comprising: reacting a mixture of non functional, monofunctional, and bifunctional perfluoropolyethers comprising hydroxyl terminal groups, wherein the average functionality is of at least 1.97 [mixture (M)] with suitable reactants for producing a thermoplastic elastomer; moulding the so-obtained thermoplastic elastomer for yielding at least a part of the medical implant. It has been surprisingly found that by using a mixture of perfluoropolyethers having high functionality, it is advantageously possible to manufacture, by moulding thermoplastic elastomers therefrom, medical implants which exhibit improved biocompatibility and which are submitted to reduced chemicals extraction by biological fluids.

Abstract: A process for preparing perfluoropolyethers of formula T-O—(RF)z-T???(I) wherein: T, T' are end groups, z=0 or 1; RF is a perfluoro(poly)oxyalkylene chain containing one or more fluorooxyalkylene repeating units selected from the group consisting of (CF2O), —(CF(CF3)O)—, —(CF2CF2O)—, —(CF2CF(CF3)O)—, —(CF(CF3)CF2O)—, —(CF2CF2CF2O)—, —(CF2CF2CF2CF2O)—, and —(CF2)j—CFZ—O— wherein j is an integer from 0 to 3, and Z is a fluorooxyalkylene chain comprising from 1 to 20 repeating units selected from the above reported fluorooxyalkylene units; comprising the reduction of peroxidic perfluoropolyethers comprising one or more of the above defined repeating units by using gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising one or more metals of the VIII group supported on graphitic materials.

Abstract: MEA 7-layer assemblies with gasket, comprising: a film of ionomeric membrane (3), containing functional acid groups —SO3H and/or —COOH, having in at least one direction, called direction x, a size variation lower than 0.08%; two GDL sheets (1) and (2) in porous material having on one surface an electrocatalytic layer, not shown in the Figures, of which: the first sheet DGL (1) is coextensive with the membrane (3) surface, positioned so as to overlap thereto; the second sheet GDL (2), having a lower width but the same length of the film of membrane (3), measured in the x direction; the two sheets (1) and (2) placed so that the electrocatalytic layer comes into contact, respectively, with each of the two membrane faces; a gasket positioned according to a frame shape along the assembly perimeter.

Abstract: A composite ionomeric membrane comprising a layer or film of a porous inert material on which a (per) fluorinated sulphonic ionomer is deposited wherein the sulphonic groups are at the end of short side chains (SSC), said ionomer having: equivalent weight comprised between 280 and 1,700 g/eq; side chains of formula: —O—CF2—CF2—S03?M+, wherein M is hydrogen or an alkaline metal; said membrane having in each of the two orthogonal directions xy of the plane, after dipping in demineralized water at 100° C. for 30 minutes and preliminary drying at 105° C. under vacuum for one hour, the following size variations: in one direction, size variation lower than 25%; in the other direction, size variation lower than 20%.

Abstract: Perfluoroelastomeric gel having the following properties: appearance: transparent gelatinous solid; water content between 10% and 90% by weight; density between 1.1 and 2.1 g/cm3; said gel satisfies the following test: dried in a stove at 90° C. until a constant weight gives curable perfluoroelastomers.

Abstract: A method of lubricating a wind turbine gearbox comprising using a lubricating composition comprising at least one (i.e. one or a mixture of more than one) perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant which comprises a perfluorooxyalkylene chain, said perfluorooxyalkylene chain comprising recurring units having at least one ether bond and at least one fluorocarbon moiety. A wind turbine gearbox comprising a lubricating system containing said lubricating composition.

Abstract: Use in LAN cable applications, as materials for the coating of the primary cable and for the external jacket, of TFE thermoprocessable perfluoropolymers comprising perfluoroalkylvinylethers in the following amounts, expressed as percent by weight on the total of the monomers: a) 0-5.5% of perfluoromethylvinylether (PMVE); b) 0.4-4.5% of perfluoroethylvinylether (PEVE) and/or perfluoropropylvinylether (PPVE); when a) is present, then a)+b) ranges from 1.5% to 5.5% by weight on the total of the monomers; optionally c) 0-6% of hexafluoropropene (HFP); the TFE amount being the complement to 100% by weight.

Abstract: A method for determining the binding constant of interacting molecular species comprises the use of flat surfaces comprising perfluorinated polymers and measurements of reflected light intensity. The surfaces comprise at least one molecule with the receptor function absorbed or immobilized on the surface and at least one ligand that interacts with the receptor.

Abstract: VDF-based curable fluoroelastomers having glass transition temperature lower than ?35° C. and an amount of —COF end groups in the polymer lower than the sensitivity limit of the method using the FT-IR spectroscopy described in the present application.

Abstract: Liquid formulations of imidoalkanepercarboxylic acids, in the form of aqueous dispersions comprising, in percentages by weight relative to the total weight of the composition: A) from ?7% to 40% and preferably from 10% to 20% of imidoalkanepercarboxylic acids having the general formula (I), the said imidoalkanepercarboxylic acids being in the ? form and having a dissolution time, determined via the test of the rate of dissolution at a temperature of 40° C. or 18° C., of not more than 5 minutes when determined at 40° C. or 15 minutes when determined at 18° C., for an amount of dissolved acid equal to 99% of the theoretical amount; B) from 0.001% to 0.9% of a nonionic surfactant; the said dispersions having a viscosity of not more than 2000 mPa·sec at 25° C. by applying a shear rate of 20 s?1; in which the dissolution time of the component A), determined via the test of the rate of dissolution at a temperature of 40° C. or 18° C., is not more than 5 minutes when determined at 40° C.

Abstract: The invention pertain to a process for purifying a fluoropolymer dispersion, said process comprising: (i) providing an aqueous dispersion (D) of at least one fluoropolymer [polymer (F)]comprising at least one fluorinated surfactant [surfactant (FS)], having a solids content (SC) of 15% by weight or more; (ii) adding to said aqueous dispersion (D) at least one non-ionic non-fluorinated surfactant [surfactant (NS)]; (iii) adjusting said solid content (SC) to less than 10% by weight, to obtain a diluted aqueous dispersion (dD); (iv) contacting said diluted aqueous dispersion (dD) with at least one adsorbing material, so as to obtain an aqueous dispersion of polymer (F) having a content of the fluorinated surfactant (FS) of less than 1 ppm based on the total weight of solids. Still an object of the invention is an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion comprising less than 1 ppm of fluorinated surfactant.

Abstract: The invention pertains 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 at least one cyclic fluorocompound of the following formula (I): wherein X1, X2, X3, equal or different from each other are independently selected among H, F, and C1-6 (per)fluoroalkyl groups, optionally comprising one or more catenary or non-catenary oxygen atoms; L represents a bond or a divalent group; RF is a divalent fluorinated C1-3 bridging group; Y is a hydrophilic function selected among anionic functionalities, cationic functionalities and non-ionic functionalities.

Abstract: Linear perfluoropolyethers of formula: T-O (CF2O)n (CF2CF2O)m (CF2CF2CF2O)r (CF2CF2CF2CF2O)s-T1??(I) wherein n, m, r, s are integers such that the polymer number average molecular weight is comprised between 700 and 100,000 and the n/(n+m+r+s) ratio ranges from 0.05 to 0.40, and respective preparation process by addition of a peroxidic perfluoropolyether of formula (III): T4-O(CF2O)n, (CF2CF2O)m, (O)h-T5??(III) having a PO from 1.8 to 4, to a perfluoropolyether oil preheated at a temperature comprised between 150° C. and 250° C. and subsequent exhaustive fluorination of the obtained compound.

Abstract: Fluoroelastomeric gel having the following properties: appearance: transparent gelatinous solid; water content between 10% and 90% by weight; density between 1.1 and 2.1 g/cm3; said gel satisfies the following test: dried in a stove at 90° C. until a constant weight gives curable fluoroelastomers.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition comprising: at least one thermoplastic hydrogen-containing fluoropolymer [polymer (A)]; and from 0.1 to 10% by weight of (A) of at least one per(halo)fluoropolymer chosen among tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymers having a dynamic viscosity at a shear rate of 1 rad sec?1 of less than 10 Pa sec at a temperature of 280° C. [polymer (B)]. The addition of a TFE copolymer [polymer (B)] of low melt viscosity advantageously enables improvement of rheological behavior of thermoplastic hydrogen-containing fluoropolymer (A), making possible processing in less severe conditions and yielding final parts with outstanding surface aspect and good homogeneity and coherency. Still objects of the invention are a process for manufacturing said thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition and the articles, such as shaped articles, films, cable sheathing, pipes, flexible pipes, hollow bodies comprising said thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition.

Abstract: A method for making a fluoropolymer comprising an aqueous emulsion polymerization of one or more fluorinated monomers wherein the aqueous emulsion polymerization is carried out in the presence of at least one cyclic fluorocompound of the following formula (I): wherein X1, X2, X3, equal to or different from each other are independently selected among H, F, and C1-6 (per)fluoroalkyl groups, optionally comprising one or more catenary or non-catenary oxygen atoms; L represents a bond or a divalent group; RF is a divalent fluorinated C1-3 bridging group; Y is a hydrophilic function selected among anionic functionalities, cationic functionalities and non-ionic functionalities.

Abstract: A process for purifying a polyol(per)fluoropolyether derivative [polyol (P)] from a mixture (M) of hydroxyl(per)fluoropolyether derivatives, such polyol (P) comprising one or more hydroxyl(per)fluoropolyether derivatives [PFPEs (OH)] comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain Rf) and at least one end-group having formula (t3): —CF2CH2OCH2CH(OH)CH2OCH2CH(OH)CH2OH, such mixture (M) comprising said polyol (P) and at least one hydroxyl(per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH)] different from polyol (P) and comprising at least one chain Rf and at least one end-group selected from end-groups having formula (t1): —CF2CH2OH and formula (t2): —CF2CH2OCH2CH(OH)CH2OH.

Abstract: A modified carbonaceous material having chemically bound on its surface at least one fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain Rf) and a process for the modification of a carbonaceous material [material (C)]. The process comprises: contacting the material (C) with a (per)fluoropolyether peroxide comprising at least one peroxidic moiety comprised between sp3 carbon atoms and at least one fluoropolyoxyalkene chain (chain Rf), i.e. a fluorocarbon segment comprising ether linkages in main chain [peroxide (P)]; and heating the material (C) while in contact with the peroxide (P) at a temperature exceeding decomposition temperature of the peroxide (P).

Abstract: A polymer comprising recurring units derived from vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and trifluoroethylene (TrFE), such polymer comprising end groups of formula —CF2H and/or —CF2CH3 in an amount of at least 60 mmoles per kg of VDF recurring units [polymer (F)], a process for its manufacture and the use thereof as ferroelectric, piezoelectric, dielectric or pyroelectric material in electric/electronic devices.