Perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked fluoropolymer with perfluoroether pendant groups
View Patent ↗This invention pertains to a novel perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked fluoropolymer with perfluoroether pendant groups. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked fluoropolymer hereof is particularly well-suited for use in chemically and thermally aggressive environments, in part by virtue of the highly stable perfluoroalkyl crosslink. The perfluroalkyl-crosslinked fluoropolymer hereof can be prepared by crosslinking in situ a crosslinkable precursor in the form of a shaped article. A crosslinkable precursor is a fluoropolymer having a dichloroamino-functionalized functionalized perfluoroether pendant group.
1. A perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer represented by Structure IV
wherein each of Π α and Π β is a polymeric radical backbone chain comprising fluoroalkylene repeat units optionally substituted by ether oxygen, and perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked repeat units at a molar concentration in the range of a molar concentration of 0.5 to 50 mol-%; where x 1 and x 2 each independently is an integer in the range of 0 to 3; y 1 and y 2 each independently is an integer in the range of 0 to 6, and z 1 and z 2 each independently is an integer in the range of 0 to 3; R 1 =(CF 2 ) a CFR 2 , where a is an integer in the range of 0 to 6, and R 2 is F or C 1-6 perfluoroalkyl optionally substituted by ether oxygen; R 1 ′=(CF 2 ) a ′CFR 2 ′ where a′ is an integer in the range of 0 to 6, and R 2 ′ is F or C 1-6 perfluoroalkyl optionally substituted by ether oxygen; and, R 3 and R 3 ′ are each independently F or C 1-6 perfluoroalkyl optionally substituted by ether oxygen; with the proviso that y 1 and z 1 cannot both be zero; with the further proviso that y 2 and z 2 cannot both be zero; with the further proviso that no monomer from which the repeat unit in the backbone chain of said Ha and H polymeric radicals is derived has more than two vinyl hydrogens attached thereto; and, with the further proviso that Π α and Π β can comprise the same or different repeat units.
2. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 1 wherein Π α and Π β comprise the same repeat units.
3. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 1 wherein Π α and Π β comprise different repeat units.
4. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 2 wherein x 1 and x 2 =1, y 1 and y 2 =1, z 1 and z 2 =1, and a=1; R 2 =CF 3 ; and R 3 =F.
5. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 1 wherein the molar concentration of perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked repeat units is in the range of 0.5 to 50 mol-%.
6. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 1 wherein the fluoroalkylene repeat units comprise a combination of HFP and VF 2 repeat units.
7. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 1 wherein the fluoroalkylene repeat units comprise a combination of TFE and PDD repeat units.
8. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 1 wherein at least one of Ha and H further comprises perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether repeat units.
9. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 1 in the form of a film disposed upon a substrate.
10. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 9 in the form of a film disposed upon a substrate.
11. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 1 in the form of a shaped article.
12. The perfluoroalkyl-crosslinked polymer of claim 9 in the form of a shaped article.