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: 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.

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: 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.

Abstract: The present invention is based on quad-fluoropolymer suitable for the preparation of a fluoroelastomer. The fluoropolymer comprises repeating units derived from 10 to 40 mol % of tetrafluoroethylene, 40 to 65 mol % of vinylidene fluoride, 1 to 30 mol % of a perfluorinated vinyl ether of the formula CF2?CFOCF2CF2CF2OCF3, 1 to 20 mol % of perfluoromethyl vinylether.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for making a fluoropolymer having nitrile endgroups. The process comprises a free radical polymerization of one or more fluorinated monomers in the presence of a nitrile group containing salt or a nitrile group containing pseudohalogen compound.

Abstract: A fluoropolymer having a reduced amount of polar end groups. The fluoropolymer is produced by free radical polymerization of fluorinated monomers and the initiation of the polymerization is carried out in the presence of a chloride salt. Polar end groups include hydroxy groups and ionized or ionizable end groups. Examples of ionized or ionizable end groups include acid groups and salts thereof such as sulfonic acid and salts thereof, —CH2—OSO3H groups, sulfates and carbonyl containing end groups such as carboxylic and carboxylate groups. Due to the presence of chloride salt at the initiation of the free radical polymerization, CF2Cl end groups are formed instead of the polar end groups. As a result, a fluoropolymer is obtained that has improved processibility and heat resistance.

Abstract: A composition comprising (a) a fluoropolymer having pendant imidate groups, which imidate groups have the formula: —C═NH(OR) wherein R is a C1-C10 aliphatic group which aliphatic group may have F or Cl substituents; and optionally, (b) a perfluorovinyl ether of the general formula: CF2═CFO(R′fO)a(R″fO)bRf wherein R′f and R″f are the same or are different C1-C6 linear or branched perfluoroalkylene groups; a and b are, independently, 0 or an integer from 1 to 10; and Rf is a C1-C8 perfluoroalkyl group or a C1-C15 perfluoroalkoxy group. Also provided are a method of making a fluoropolymer composition and curable and cured articles comprising a fluoropolymer composition.

Abstract: A fluorochemical composition for rendering a fibrous substrate oil and/or water repellent which comprises a solution or dispersion of a fluoropolymer having a partially or fully fluorinated backbone and comprising one or more repeating units corresponding to the general formula: wherein Rf represents a perfluorinated organic group having a chain length of at least 2 atoms and having at least one carbon atom and optional auxiliary components.

Abstract: A method of making a curable fluoroelastomer is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of preemulsifying at least one perfluorovinylether in water, and copolymerizing the preemulsified perfluorovinylether with a gaseous fluorinated monomer in the presence of a cure site monomer. The method provides a fluoroelastomer having a glass transition temperature of less than −10° C. Also disclosed is a fluoroelastomer that consists essentially of a perfluorovinylether of formula (I) as defined below, a cure site component, perfluoromethylvinylether, and tetrafluoroethylene and/or chlorotrifluoroethylene.

Abstract: Emulsion polymerization of liquid fluorinated monomers which have a boiling point above 50° C. and low water-solubility is markedly more efficient if the monomer is pre-emulsified with a nontelogenic fluorinated emulsifier in water.

Abstract: A composition comprising (a) a fluoropolymer having pendant imidate groups, which imidate groups have the formula: —C═NH(OR) wherein R is a C1-C10 aliphatic group which aliphatic group may have F or Cl substituents; and optionally, (b) a perfluorovinyl ether of the general formula: CF2═CFO(R′fO)a(R″fO)bRf wherein R′f and R″f are the same or are different C1-C6 linear or branched perfluoroalkylene groups; a and b are, independently, 0 or an integer from 1 to 10; and Rf is a C1-C8 perfluoroalkyl group or a C1-C15 perfluoroalkoxy group.