Abstract: In a first aspect, a consolidated polymer film includes a first polymer layer having a first elastic modulus, wherein the first polymer layer comprises a non-melt-processible polymer comprising a polyimide, a poly(amide-imide), a block copolymer of a polyimide or a poly(amide-imide) or a mixture thereof, and a second polymer layer having a second elastic modulus, wherein the second polymer layer comprises a polyimide, a poly(amide-imide), a block copolymer of a polyimide or a poly(amide-imide) or a mixture thereof. A minor surface of the first polymer layer is in contact with a minor surface of the second polymer layer. The first elastic modulus is different from the second elastic modulus. The first and second polymer layers are bonded by consolidation.

Abstract: A process for reducing thermally induced discoloration of fluoropolymer resin produced by polymerizing fluoromonomer in an aqueous dispersion medium to form aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and isolating said fluoropolymer from the aqueous medium to obtain the fluoropolymer resin. The process comprises exposing the aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion to oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a fluoropolymer composition. The process involves: i) combining an aqueous dispersion of melt flowable polytetrafluoroethylene and an aqueous dispersion of melt-fabricable tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer to form a fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion, ii) coagulating the fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion to form a solid fluoropolymer phase and an aqueous phase, iii) separating the solid fluoropolymer phase from the aqueous phase to form coagulated fluoropolymer, and iv) heating the coagulated fluoropolymer at a temperature of from 280° C. to less than the highest melting point of the coagulated fluoropolymer for a period of time sufficient to increase the tensile modulus, increase the tensile strength, increase the MIT flex life, and decrease the melt flow rate of the coagulated fluoropolymer and thereby forming the fluoropolymer composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides oriented film comprising the composition 55 to 95 wt % tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene/-perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer and 45 to 5 wt % tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer to total 100 wt % based on the combined weight of said copolymers, wherein the alkyl in each copolymer comprises 1 to 4 carbon atoms and wherein the presence of the tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer in the composition and the presence of perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) in both copolymers improves the thermoformability of the film as compared to oriented film of the same film thickness comprising the tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene/perfluoro-(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer by itself.

Abstract: Process for reducing thermally induced discoloration of fluoropolymer resin produced by polymerizing fluoromonomer in an aqueous dispersion medium to form aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and isolating the fluoropolymer from the aqueous medium by separating fluoropolymer resin in wet form from the aqueous medium and drying to produce fluoropolymer resin in dry form. The process comprises: exposing the fluoropolymer resin in wet or dry form to oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A core/shell polymer is provided and is optionally heat aged, wherein the core comprises one of (a) melt-fabricable tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer and (b) melt-processible polytetrafluoroethylene and the shell comprises the other of (a) and (b), wherein the amount of (b) in said core/shell polymer is 15 to 45 wt % based on the total weight of (a) and (b) whether (b) is the core or shell of the core/shell polymer.

Abstract: A Process is provided comprising melt fabricating Tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer characterized by an MFR of no greater than 10 g/10 min and PPVE content of no greater than 5 wt % in to a final-shape article and heat aging said article at a temperature of at least 295° C. to increase the melting temperature of said tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer by at least 6° C.

Abstract: A laminate is provided comprising a metal substrate and a fluoropolymer layer adhered directly to said metal substrate, said fluoropolymer layer having a recrystallized region at the interface with said metal substrate, the preferred laminate being an electrical cable wherein the metal substrate is an electrical conductor and the fluoropolymer layer is the electrical insulation of the conductor and wherein the opposite surface of the electrical insulation is not recrystallized.

Abstract: A process for reducing thermally induced discoloration of fluoropolymer resin produced by polymerizing fluoromonomer in an aqueous dispersion medium to form aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and isolating said fluoropolymer from the aqueous medium to obtain the fluoropolymer resin. The process comprises: exposing the aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion to oxidizing agent.

Abstract: Process for reducing thermally induced discoloration of fluoropolymer resin produced by polymerizing fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium to form aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and isolating said fluoropolymer from said aqueous medium to obtain said fluoropolymer resin. The process comprises: exposing the fluoropolymer resin to fluorine.

Abstract: A process for reducing thermally induced discoloration of fluoropolymer resin produced by polymerizing fluoromonomer in an aqueous dispersion medium to form aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and isolating said fluoropolymer from the aqueous medium to obtain the fluoropolymer resin. The process comprises: exposing the aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion to oxidizing agent.

Abstract: Process for reducing thermally induced discoloration of fluoropolymer resin produced by polymerizing fluoromonomer in an aqueous dispersion medium to form aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and isolating said fluoropolymer from said aqueous medium to obtain said fluoropolymer resin. The process comprises: exposing the aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion to hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A foamable fluoropolymer composition containing foam cell nucleating agent is provided, wherein the fluoropolymer comprises melt-fabricable tetrafluoroethylene-/hexafluoropropylene copolymer and tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer, wherein the alkyl contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein the melting temperature of said tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer is no more than 35° C. greater than the melting temperature of said tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and/or wherein said tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer and said tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer each have a melt flow rate (MFR) within the range of 1 to 40 g/10 min and the MFR of one of said copolymers is at least twice that of the other of said copolymers.

Abstract: A foamable fluoropolymer composition containing foam cell nucleating agent is provided, wherein the fluoropolymer comprises melt-fabricable tetrafluoroethylene-/hexafluoropropylene copolymer and tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer, wherein the alkyl contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein the melting temperature of said tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer is no more than 35° C. greater than the melting temperature of said tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and/or wherein said tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer and said tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer each have a melt flow rate (MFR) within the range of 1 to 40 g/10 min and the MFR of one of said copolymers is at least twice that of the other of said copolymers.

Abstract: A melt-mixed composition of non-melt flowable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer is provided that exhibits thixotropy at increasing shear rate in the molten state and high elongation at break even at PTFE concentrations well above 4 wt %, based on the combined weight of the PTFE and the perfluoropolymer, e.g. at least 200% up to at least 30 wt % PTFE, the composition also exhibiting the structure of a dispersion of submicrometer-size particles of the PTFE in a continuous phase of the melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer.

Abstract: A process is provided for extruding a partially crystalline melt-fabricable perfluoropolymers. The process comprises blow molding from a perfluoropolymer having polytetrafluoroethylene sub-micrometer particles dispersed therein. The perfluoropolymer composition is a core/shell polymer, with pelletized blend, a dispersion blend or a melt-mixed polymer.

Abstract: A foamable fluoropolymer composition containing foam cell nucleating agent is provided, wherein the fluoropolymer comprises melt-fabricable tetrafluoroethylene-/hexafluoropropylene copolymer and tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer, wherein the alkyl contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein the melting temperature of said tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer is no more than 35° C. greater than the melting temperature of said tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and/or wherein said tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer and said tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer each have a melt flow rate (MFR) within the range of 1 to 40 g/10 min and the MFR of one of said copolymers is at least twice that of the other of said copolymers.

Abstract: A melt-mixed composition of non-melt flowable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer is provided that exhibits thixotropy at increasing shear rate in the molten state and high elongation at break even at PTFE concentrations well above 4 wt %, based on the combined weight of the PTFE and the perfluoropolymer, e.g. at least 200% up to at least 30 wt % PTFE, the composition also exhibiting the structure of a dispersion of submicrometer-size particles of the PTFE in a continuous phase of the melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer.

Abstract: A melt-mixed composition of non-melt flowable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer is provided that exhibits thixotropy at increasing shear rate in the molten state and high elongation at break even at PTFE concentrations well above 4 wt %, based on the combined weight of the PTFE and the perfluoropolymer, e.g. at least 200% up to at least 30 wt % PTFE, the composition also exhibiting the structure of a dispersion of submicrometer-size particles of the PTFE in a continuous phase of the melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer.

Abstract: Tensile strength after heat aged of articles molded from melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer is improved by incorporating polytetrafluoroethylene as dispersed submicrometer-size particles into the melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer.