Curable fluorocopolymer formed from tetrafluoropropene
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to partially fluorinated copolymers and the production thereof. More specifically, the copolymers, which are preferably produced by a solution polymerization process, preferably have at least three units, the first unit selected from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, the second unit having a polymerized monomer selected from the vinyl esters and vinyl ethers, and the third unit having a polymerized monomer derived from a hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether. The resulting copolymer is environmentally friendly, has favorable molecular weight characteristics, and may be shipped economically in high concentration.
1. A copolymer composition comprising:
(a) from 45 mol % to 55 mol % of a polymerized monomers of 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;
(b) from 25 mol % to 45 mol % of polymerized monomers of vinyl esters and vinyl ethers; and
(c) from 5 mol % to 20 mol % of polymerized monomers of hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether(s).
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said vinyl ester is a compound of formula
CH 2 ═CR 1 -O(C═O)R 2 and
said vinyl ether is a compound of formula
CH 2 ═CR 3 -OR 4
wherein R 1 and R 3 is hydrogen or a methyl group, and wherein R 2 and R 4 is an unsubstituted straight-chain, branched-chain or alicyclic alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein said vinyl ester is a vinyl versatate ester formed from a C9 carbocylic acid or a vinyl versatate ester formed from a C10 carbocylic acid.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether(s) is a compound of formula
CH 2 ═CR 5 -OR 6 ,
wherein R 5 is hydrogen or a methyl group, and R 6 is an unsubstituted straight-chain, branched-chain or alicyclic alkyl group having a hydroxyl groups.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein said vinyl ether is ethyl vinyl ether.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said copolymer consists essentially of said polymerized 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, vinyl esters, vinyl ethers; and hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether(s).
7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the copolymer has a number average molecular weight of between 5000 and 50000.
8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the copolymer has a number average molecular weight of between 5000 and 10000.
9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 15-50 wt % solvent.
10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 15-25 wt % solvent.
11. A copolymer composition comprising:
(a) from 45 mol % to 55 mol % of polymerized monomers of 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;
(b) from 25 mol % to 45 mol % of polymerized monomers of ethyl vinyl ether and a vinyl versatate ester formed from a C10 carbocylic acid; and
(c) from 5 mol % to 20 mol % of polymerized monomers comprising hydroxyl butyl vinyl ether.
12. The composition of claim 11 , wherein said copolymer consists essentially of said polymerized 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, ethyl vinyl ether, a vinyl versatate ester formed from a C10 carbocylic acid and hydroxyl butyl vinyl ether.