Fluoroelastomer process aid contains polyalkylene oxide and polycaprolactone
View Patent ↗A process aid for improving the processability of non-fluorinated melt processible polymers contains a fluoroelastomer having a Mooney viscosity (ML (1+10) at 121° C.) between 30 and 100 and at least two interfacial agents, one a polycaprolactone having a Mn between 2000 and 8000 and the other a polyalkylene oxide having a Mn between 3000 and 5000.
1. A process aid composition comprising:
A) 10 to 90 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition, of a fluoroelastomer having a ML (1+10)@ 121° C. of 30 to 100;
B) 5 to 85 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition, of a polycaprolactone having a Mn between 2000 and 8000; and
C) 5 to 85 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition, of a polyalkylene oxide having a Mn between 3000 and 5000.
2. A process aid composition of claim 1 wherein said fluoroelastomer is present at a level between 10 and 60 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition.
3. A process aid composition of claim 2 wherein said fluoroelastomer is present at a level between 10 and 30 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition.
4. A process aid composition of claim 1 wherein said fluoroelastomer has a ML (1+10)@ 121° C. of 50 to 90.
5. A process aid composition of claim 4 wherein said fluoroelastomer has a ML (1+10)@ 121° C. of 60 to 80.
6. A process aid composition of claim 1 wherein said fluoroelastomer comprises copolymerized units selected from the group consisting of i) vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene; ii) vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene/tetrafluoroethylene; iii) tetrafluoroethylene/propylene; and iv) tetrafluoroethylene/propylene/vinylidene fluoride.
7. A process aid composition of claim 6 wherein said fluoroelastomer comprises copolymerized units of vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene.
8. A process aid composition of claim 1 wherein said polyalkylene oxide is selected from the group consisting of i) polyethylene oxide, ii) polypropylene oxide and iii) copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
9. A process aid composition of claim 8 wherein said polyalkylene oxide is present at a level between 5 and 50 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition.
10. A process aid composition of claim 9 wherein said polyalkylene oxide is present at a level between 5 and 25 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition.
11. A process aid composition of claim 1 wherein said polycaprolactone is present at a level between 25 and 70 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition.
12. A process aid composition of claim 11 wherein said polycaprolactone is present at a level between 40 and 60 weight percent, based on total weight of said process aid composition.