Process for manufacturing fluoroelastomer compositions containing fluoroplastic fibrils
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein is a process for the manufacture of a fluoroelastomer composition containing fluoropolymer fibrils. The process comprises applying shear to a fluoroelastomer gum in a mixer while adding a liquid dispersion of fibrillatable fluoropolymer.
1. A process for manufacture of a fluoroelastomer composition containing fluoroplastic fibrils, said process comprising:
A) applying shear to a fluoroelastomer gum in a mixer; and
B) adding a liquid dispersion of fibrillatable fluoroplastic particles to said fluoroelastomer gum while applying shear in said mixer, thereby forming a fluoroelastomer composition containing fluoroplastic fibrils dispersed therein.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein said fluoroplastic particles have a d90 less than 5 microns.
3. The process of claim 2 wherein said fluoroplastic particles have a d90 less than 0.5 microns and a d50 less than 0.3 microns.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein said fluoroplastic fibrils have a width less than 100 nm.
5. A fluoroelastomer composition made by the process of claim 1 .
6. A cured fluoroelastomer article made from the composition of claim 5 .