Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a fluoropolymer in a liquid reaction medium, comprising the following steps: provide a reactor containing a liquid reaction medium comprising water introduce in said reactor ethylene monomers and fluorinated monomers, said fluorinated monomers being selected from tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) or mixtures thereof, pressurize the reactor, initiate polymerization feeding into said reactor a redox initiator comprising an oxidising agent and a reducing agent, wherein said reducing agent in said redox couple initiator is free from sulphur atoms having an oxidation number of 4 or below, wherein the reaction medium is free of fluorinated surfactants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorosurfactant-free emulsion polymerization method for the synthesis of a fluoropolymer, more in particular of a VDF-based polymer.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a fluoropolymer composition comprising: —at least one polymer comprising recurring units derived from ethylene (E) and from chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) [ECTFE polymer]; —at least one water-soluble polyelectrolyte [polyelectrolyte (E)]; and—at least one antioxidant compound [compound (P)], said composition having improved thermal resistance.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a thermoplastic vulcanizate fluorine-containing composition [vulcanizate (C)], comprising a continuous thermoplastic fluoropolymer phase and a dispersed vulcanized fluoroelastomer phase, said composition comprising: -at least one thermoplastic, fluoropolymer [polymer (F)], said polymer (F) comprising (j) from 40 to 60% by moles of recurring units derived from ethylene (E); (jj) from 60 to 40% by moles of recurring units derived from at least one of chlorotrilluoroethylene (CTFE) and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE); and (jjj) from 0.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a dispersion of a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) thermoplastic polymer [polymer (F)], said process includes polymerizing VDF in an aqueous phase that includes: at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-fluorinated surfactants [surfactant (HS)] and fluorinated surfactants having a molecular weight of less than 400 [surfactant (FS)]; and at least one functional (per)fluoropolyether (functional PFPE) comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain [chain (R?F)] and at least one functional group, said functional PFPE having a number average molecular weight of at least 1000 and a solubility in water of less than 1% by weight at 25° C., wherein said functional PFPE is present in the aqueous phase in an amount of 0.001 to 0.3 g/l.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorosurfactant-free emulsion polymerization method for the synthesis of a fluoropolymer, more in particular of a VDF-based polymer.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a fluorinated thermoplastic elastomer, to a process for the manufacture of said fluorinated thermoplastic elastomer and to uses of said fluorinated thermoplastic elastomer in various applications, especially in low temperature applications.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an aqueous composition comprising: (A) an aqueous latex comprising at least one vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymer [polymer (F)] comprising recurring units derived from vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and at least one (meth)acrylic monomer (MA) having formula (I) here below: wherein: —R1, R2 and R3, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from a hydrogen atom and a C1-C3 hydrocarbon group, and —ROH is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C5 hydrocarbon moiety comprising at least one hydroxyl group, (B) at least one powdery electrode material, and (C) optionally, less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, of at least one organic solvent (S), wherein the polymer (F) in the aqueous latex is under the form of primary particles having an average primary particle size of less than 1 ?m, as measured according to ISO 13321.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a fluoroelastomer [fluoroelastomer (A)] having a heat of fusion of less than 5 J/g as measured by ASTM D-3418-08, said method comprising emulsion polymerizing vinylidene fluoride (VDF) in the presence of at least one additional fluorinated monomer, in an aqueous polymerization medium, said method comprising polymerizing VDF and said additional fluorinated monomer(s) in the presence of a redox radical initiator system comprising: —at least one organic oxidizing agent [agent (O)]; —at least one organic reducing agent [agent (R)]; wherein agent (O) is fed to said polymerization medium separately from agent (R), so that agent (O) comes in contact with agent (R) exclusively in said polymerization medium comprising VDF and optional additional monomer(s), to fluoroelastomers having low amount of chain defects and low amount of polar end groups, notably obtainable from said process, and to curable compositions therefrom.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a dispersion of a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) thermoplastic polymer [polymer (F)], said process includes polymerizing VDF in an aqueous phase that includes: at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-fluorinated surfactants [surfactant (HS)] and fluorinated surfactants having a molecular weight of less than 400 [surfactant (FS)]; and at least one functional (per)fluoropolyether (functional PFPE) comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain [chain (R?F)] and at least one functional group, said functional PFPE having a number average molecular weight of at least 1000 and a solubility in water of less than 1% by weight at 25° C., wherein said functional PFPE is present in the aqueous phase in an amount of 0.001 to 0.3 g/l.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a dispersions of a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) thermoplastic polymer [polymer (F)], said process comprising polymerizing VDF in an aqueous phase comprising: at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-fluorinated surfactants [surfactant (HS)] and fluorinated surfactants having a molecular weight of less than 400 [surfactant (FS)]; and at least one functional (per)fluoropolyether (functional PFPE) comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain [chain (R?F)] and at least one functional group, said functional PFPE having a number average molecular weight of at least 1000 and a solubility in water of less than 1% by weight at 25° C., wherein said functional PFPE is present in the aqueous phase in an amount of 0.001 to 0.3 g/l.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a dispersion of a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) thermoplastic polymer [polymer (F)], said process comprising polymerizing VDF in an aqueous phase comprising from 0.5 to 1.5 g/l of at least one surfactant of formula F—(CF2CF2)3—CH2CH2—SO3Xa, wherein Xa is H, a alkali metal or a NRH4 group, with RH being H or a C1-C6 hydrocarbon group [surfactant (T)] and an organic oxidizing agent [agent (O)] as polymerization initiator.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a fluoropolymer [polymer (F)] comprising: recurring units derived from vinylidene fluoride (VDF), and from 0.01% to 5% by moles of recurring units derived from at least one (meth)acrylic monomer [monomer (MA)] having formula (I) here below: wherein: R1, R2 and R3, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from a hydrogen atom and a C1-C3 hydrocarbon group, and ROH represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C5 hydrocarbon moiety comprising at least one hydroxyl group, said polymer (F) comprising end groups having formula —CF2H and/or —CF2CH3 in an amount of at least 30 mmoles per Kg of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) recurring units. The invention also pertains to a process for the manufacture of said polymer (F) and to use of said polymer (F) as binders for the manufacture of electrodes or for the manufacture of membranes.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a thermoplastic vulcanizate fluorine-containing composition [vulcanizate (C)], comprising a continuous thermoplastic fluoropolymer phase and a dispersed vulcanized fluoroelastomer phase, said composition comprising: —at least one thermoplastic fluoropolymer [polymer (F)], said polymer (F) comprising (j) from 40 to 60% by moles of recurring units derived from ethylene (E); (jj) from 60 to 40% by moles of recurring units derived from at least one of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE); and (jjj) from 0.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a thermoplastic vulcanizate fluorine-containing composition [vulcanizate (C)], comprising a continuous thermoplastic fluoropolymer phase and a dispersed vulcanized fluoroelastomer phase, said composition comprising: —at least one thermoplastic fluoropolymer [polymer (F)]; —at least one (per)fluoroelastomer [elastomer (A)], and —at least one ionomer polymer comprising recurring units derived from a fluorine-free hydrogenated olefin and recurring units derived from a (meth)acrylic acid having carboxylic acid group, at least a fraction of carboxylic acid groups being under the form of metal or ammonium salts, [ionomer (I)].

Abstract: The invention pertains to a fluoropolymer composition comprising: —at least one polymer comprising recurring units derived from ethylene (E) and from chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) [ECTFE polymer]; —at least one water-soluble polyelectrolyte [polyelectrolyte (E)]; and—at least one antioxidant compound [compound (P)], said composition having improved thermal resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of talc as a chemical foaming agent in perfluoropolymers to form foamable and foamed compositions. For example, in one aspect, a foamable composition is disclosed, which comprises (i) one or more base perfluoropolymers comprising at least 50 percent by weight of the composition, and (ii) talc blended with the one or more base perfluoropolymers, where the talc comprises 3 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the composition. Each of the perfluoropolymers is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoromethylvinyl ether copolymer (MFA), hexafluoropropylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (FEP) and perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and any blend thereof, where hydrogen-containing fluoropolymers are absent from the composition. The one or more base perfluoropolymers are melt-processable at one or more elevated processing temperatures of at least about 600° F.

Abstract: The invention pertains to certain hydro-fluorocompounds of the following formula (I): RfO—RH—O—(CH2)m-[CF(X)n]—COOXa wherein: —Xa is H, a monovalent metal (preferably an alkaline metal) or an ammonium group of formula —N(R?n)4, wherein each of R?n, equal to or different from each other, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 hydrocarbon group (preferably an alkyl group); —Rf is a C1-C6 (per)fluoroalkyl optionally comprising one or more catenary oxygen atoms, preferably Rf is a group of formula Rf—CH2—, wherein R?f is a C1-C5 perfluorinated group, possibly comprising one or more ethereal oxygens, preferably a C1-C3 perfluorinated group, possibly comprising one or more ethereal oxygens; —RH is a fluorine-free hydrocarbon group optionally comprising one or more catenary oxygen atoms; —X is F or CF3, preferably X is F; -m is 0 or 1; -n is 1 to 3, to a process for the manufacture of said hydro-fluorocompounds, to a method of making fluoropolymers in the presence of said hydro-fluorocompounds, and to fl

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for manufacturing a foamed article, which comprises providing a composition comprising a melt-processable perfluoropolymer and talc, said perfluoropolymer comprising at least 50 percent by weight of said composition and said talc comprising about 2 percent to 3 percent by weight of said composition; wherein said melt-processable perfluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylent/perfluoromethylvinyl ether copolymer (MFA), hexafluoropropylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (FEP), and perfluroralkoxy (PFA) and any blend thereof. The composition is heated to a processing temperature of at least 600° F. at which talc functions as a foaming agent, thereby causing the foaming of said composition at a foaming rate in a range from 20% to 50% so as to form a foamed article. The talc is the only foaming agent in said composition and the foaming is achieved without gas injection.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an aqueous composition comprising: (A) an aqueous latex comprising at least one vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymer [polymer (F)] comprising recurring units derived from vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and at least one (meth)acrylic monomer (MA) having formula (I) here below: wherein: —R1, R2 and R3, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from a hydrogen atom and a C1-C3 hydrocarbon group, and —ROH is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C5 hydrocarbon moiety comprising at least one hydroxyl group, (B) at least one powdery electrode material, and (C) optionally, less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, of at least one organic solvent (S), wherein the polymer (F) in the N aqueous latex is under the form of primary particles having an average primary particle size of less than 1 ?m, as measured according to ISO 13321.