Abstract: A method is provided for making a crosslinked polymer electrolyte, typically in the form of a membrane for use as a polymer electrolyte membrane in an electrolytic cell such as a fuel cell, by trimerization of nitrile groups contained on groups pendant from the polymer. The resulting polymer electrolyte membrane comprises a highly fluorinated polymer comprising: a perfluorinated backbone, first pendent groups which comprise sulfonic acid groups, and crosslinks comprising trivalent groups according to the formula: The first pendent groups are typically according to the formula: —R1—SO3H, where R1 is a branched or unbranched perfluoroalkyl or perfluoroether group comprising 1-15 carbon atoms and 0-4 oxygen atoms, most typically —O—CF2—CF2—CF2—CF2—SO3H or —O—CF2—CF(CF3)—O—CF2—CF2—SO3H.

Abstract: A curative composition comprising a cation and an anion of the formula Anq?Qpm+, wherein m, n, p, and q are positive integers, wherein m*p=n*q, wherein Qm+ is an organo onium, and Aq? is an anion, provided that at least one Aq? is selected from the formula: wherein each R independently is H, halo, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or cycloalkyl, and which also may be halogenated, fluorinated, or perfluorinated, wherein two or more of R and R? groups may together form a ring, wherein each R group independently may contain one or more heteroatom(s), wherein R? can be the same as R, with the proviso that R? cannot be halo. Also provided are a fluoropolymer composition including this curative, a method of making a fluoropolymer, and fluoropolymer articles containing curable or cured fluoropolymer compositions.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising a fluorocarbon polymer, a radical initiator, and a first curing co-agent. The first curing co-agent comprises at least one silicon-containing group selected from a hydrocarbyl silane and a hydrocarbyl silazane. Furthermore, the first curing co-agent is substantially free of siloxane groups and comprises at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group. Also provided are the reaction product of these compositions and a method of making an elastomer comprising curing these compositions.

Abstract: Provided is a curable fluoropolymer composition comprising a fluoropolymer comprising interpolymerized units of tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoro(aliphatic vinyl)ether, and a nitrogen-containing cure site monomer; a catalyst to form cross-links with the nitrogen-containing cure site monomer; an organic peroxide; a co-agent to participate in a peroxide cure; and a hydrotalcite compound. Also provided is an article comprising the cured fluoropolymer reaction product of the curable composition and a method for forming a shaped article.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a fluoropolymer having interpolymerized units derived from a nitrogen-containing cure site monomer and a cure catalyst derived from an amidine and an acid having a pKa value of about ?1 to about 4 are provided. Also provided are a method of making a fluoropolymer and fluoropolymer articles containing curable or cured fluoropolymer compositions.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a perhalogenated elastomer comprising using an onium compound to coagulate a latex comprising polymer particles, the polymer particles consisting essentially of interpolymerized units of one or more perhalogenated comonomer(s) and at least one cure site monomer, wherein the coagulation is performed essentially free of metal ions and metal salts. Also provided is an elastomeric composition comprising a curable perhalogenated elastomer comprising interpolymerized units derived from a nitrogen-containing cure site monomer and coagulated with an onium compound, wherein the elastomer is capable of curing without adding further components and wherein the composition is essentially free of metal ions and metal salts. Also provided are fluoropolymer articles and methods of making fluoropolymer compositions and articles.

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 catalyst is preparable from a first component represented by R?C(CF2R)O?Q+ and a second component (NCCFR?)bZ. The catalyst may be combined with a fluoropolymer having nitrogen-containing cure-sites to form a curable composition that is useful for preparing fluoroelastomer compositions.

Abstract: A composition of a fluoropolymer comprising interpolymerized units of nitrogen-containing cure site monomer and a catalyst comprising a compound having the formula: wherein HA is an acid, each R1, R2, and R3 is independently a C1–C20 alkyl group, which may be cyclic or heterocyclic, or Rf(CH2)x— wherein Rf is a C1–C8 linear or branched and at least partially fluorinated, and x is 1 to 4, and one R group may be a bond to another R group such that the nitrogen is bonded to or part of an alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, or aromatic group. This may further comprise a catalyst composition comprising a compound of the formula R1C(OR2)?NH, and salts thereof, where each R1 and R2 is, independently, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl. Also provided are a method of making a fluoropolymer composition and articles prepared from the compositions.

Abstract: Aqueous microemulsions obtained from a perfluorinated alkane sulphonic or carboxylic acid or salt thereof, a liquid fluorinated monomer comprising a cure-site and optionally an inert liquid and highly fluorinated hydrocarbon compound. The aqueous microemulsion may be formed by mixing together water, a perfluorinated alkane sulphonic or carboxylic acid or salt thereof, optionally an inert liquid and highly fluorinated hydrocarbon compound and a liquid fluorinated monomer having a cure-site.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a crosslinked polymer electrolyte, typically in the form of a membrane for use as a polymer electrolyte membrane in an electrolytic cell such as a fuel cell, by trimerization of nitrile groups contained on groups pendant from the polymer. The resulting polymer electrolyte membrane comprises a highly fluorinated polymer comprising: a perfluorinated backbone, first pendent groups which comprise sulfonic acid groups, and crosslinks comprising trivalent groups according to the formula: The first pendent groups are typically according to the formula: —R1—SO3H, where R1 is a branched or unbranched perfluoroalkyl or perfluoroether group comprising 1–15 carbon atoms and 0–4 oxygen atoms, most typically —O—CF2—CF2—CF2—CF2—SO3H or —O—CF2—CF(CF3)—O—CF2—CF2—SO3H.

Abstract: Provided is a fluoroplastic or latex comprising a nitrogen-containing cure site and units derived from a fluorinated monomer. Also provided is a curable blend comprising a fluoroplastic and a fluoroleastomer gum, wherein said fluoroplastic comprises a nitrogen-containing cure site and units derived from a fluorinated monomer. Also provided are cured, shaped articles, latex blends, and a process for preparing a fluoroplastic comprising: (a) introducing at least 60 weight percent of a first polymerizable composition comprising a fluorinated monomer into a polymerization reactor; (b) polymerizing said composition in said reactor; (c) introducing at least 70 weight percent of a second polymerizable composition comprising a nitrogen-containing cure site monomer into said reactor following addition of at least 80% by weight of said first polymerizable composition; and (d) copolymerizing said nitrogen-containing cure site monomer with said fluorinated monomer to form a fluoroplastic.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising a fluoropolymer comprising interpolymerized units derived from a nitrile cure site monomer, and an amino-substituted aromatic curative compound having at least one substituent other than hydrogen, wherein the net effect of the substituent(s) is not electron withdrawing, the curative has a pKa above about 12, the compound may contain one or more heteroatom(s) provided that no heteroatom directly bonded to a hydrogen is in the position ortho to the amino group, and one or more substituents may together form a ring, which ring may be aromatic and may include one or more heteroatoms(s). Also provided are the reaction products of the fluoropolymer and the curative described, cured articles, and a method of making the fluoropolymer compositions and articles.

Abstract: A curable fluoroelastomer composition for preparing a perfluoroelastomer. The composition includes; (1) a perfluoropolymer having one or more cure-sites selected from a halogen capable of participating in peroxide cure reaction and/or nitrile groups; (2) an organic peroxide and/or a compound capable of effecting curing of the perfluoropolymer through said nitrile groups; and (3) optionally a polyunsaturated coagent. The perfluoropolymer in the composition is essentially free of ionic end groups and the total amount of metal cations in the composition is not more than 10 ?g/g perfluoropolymer. The perfluoroelastomers may be obtained from curing the composition in a sufficiently low amount of metal cations so as to make the fluoroelastomer suitable for use in the semi-conductor industry.

Abstract: High purity fluoropolymers are obtained by the emulsion polymerization process, removing essentially all ions and coagulating the polymer essentially without adding ions. These polymers are useful in the field of electronic devices.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a fluoropolymer having interpolymerized units derived from a nitrogen-containing cure site monomer and a catalyst composition are provided. The catalyst composition includes a compound having the general formula: {RA}(?){QR?k}(+) or the precursors thereof, wherein R is a nonfluorinated, partially fluorinated, or perfluorinated alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, A is an acid- or acid-derivative anion, Q is phosphorous, sulfur, nitrogen, arsenic, or antimony, and each R? is hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or alkenyl group, k is the valence of Q; and optionally (c) an alcohol of the formula R2—OH, wherein R2 is an alkyl group which can be fluorinated. Also provided are a method of making a fluoropolymer, a method of increasing induction time, and fluoropolymer articles containing curable or cured fluoropolymer compositions.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a fluoropolymer derived from a nitrogen-containing cure site monomer, a catalyst composition which comprises at least one anionic functional group and at least one cationic functional group having the formula QR?k(+), wherein Q is selected from phosphorous, sulfur, nitrogen, arsenic, or antimony, wherein each R? is independently selected from hydrogen and a nonfluorinated, partially fluorinated, or perfluorinated, C1-C20 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or alkenyl group, and wherein k is the valence of Q plus one; wherein the catalyst composition is a compound or the precursors thereof added separately or as a mixture; and a composition of the formula: R?2SOx wherein each R? is C1-C30 alkyl, aralkyl, the two R? groups together form a heterocyclic C3-C30 cycloalkyl, aryl, or aralkyl, each R? can be fluorinated, and x is 1 or 2. Also provided are methods of making a fluoropolymer and fluoropolymer articles containing fluoropolymer compositions.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a fluoropolymer having interpolymerized units derived from a nitrogen-containing cure site monomer and an amidine-containing curative are provided. Also provided are a method of making a fluoropolymer and fluoropolymer articles containing curable or cured fluoropolymer compositions.

Abstract: A composition of (a) a fluoropolymer having interpolymerized units derived from a nitrogen-containing cure site monomer; and (b) a nonfluorinated catalyst composition that includes a compound having the general formula: {RA}(?){QR?k}(+) or in certain cases the precursors thereof, wherein R is hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, A is an acid- or acid-derivative anion, Q is phosphorous, sulfur, nitrogen, arsenic, or antimony, and each R? is hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or alkenyl group, k is the valence of Q; and optionally (c) an alcohol of the formula R2—OH, wherein R2 is an alkyl group which can be partially fluorinated. Also provided are a method of making a fluoropolymer, a method of increasing induction time, and fluoropolymer articles containing curable or cured fluoropolymer compositions.

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.