Synthesis and use of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymers
A copolymer comprising trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene units and vinylidene fluoride units, and methods of making the same. A method of preventing biofouling on an article of manufacture, comprising applying such copolymer to the article of manufacture. A process of preparing a surface having a surface energy of between about 20 and about 30 mJ/m 2 , comprising applying such a copolymer to a support. A method of preventing accumulation of ice on an article of manufacture, comprising applying such a copolymer to an article of manufacture. A method of preparing a polymer, comprising a step of adding trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer as a polymer processing additive/aid to said polymer.
1. A method of preparing a polymer composition, comprising providing a first polymer comprising polyethylene and adding to said first polymer trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer as a polymer processing additive/aid.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said preparing step comprises extruding said polymer composition.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer is present in the polymer composition in an amount of about 0.1% on the basis of mass of the polymer composition.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein said extruding step comprises extruding said polymer composition at a shear rate of about 300 s −1 .
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing aid consists essentially of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing aid consists of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the ratio of 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene monomer units to vinylidene fluoride monomer units in the trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer is from about 90:10 mol % to about 10:90 mol %.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer has from about 30 mol % to about 50 mol % trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene units and from about 50 mol % to about 70 mol % vinylidene fluoride units.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of more than 100,000 Daltons.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer has a surface energy of between about 20 and about 30 mJ/m 2 .
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of more than 100,000 Daltons.
12. A method of preparing a polymer composition, comprising providing a first polymer and adding to said first polymer trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride/perfluoromethylvinyl ether terpolymer as a polymer processing additive/aid.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said first polymer comprises polyethylene.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said polyethylene comprises linear low density polyethylene.
15. A method of preparing a polymer composition, comprising providing a first polymer and adding to said first polymer a processing additive/aid that consists essentially of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein said first polymer comprises linear low density polyethylene.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer has from about 30 mol % to about 50 mol % trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene units and from about 50 mol % to about 70 mol % vinylidene fluoride units.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of more than 100,000 Daltons.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer has a surface energy of between about 20 and about 30 mJ/m 2 .
20. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing aid consists essentially of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer.