VDF polymer composition

1. A thermoplastic VDF polymer composition comprising:

at least one thermoplastic vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymer, comprising at least 85% by moles of recurring units derived from VDF; and

at least one ethylene/chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) polymer,

wherein said ECTFE polymer possesses a melting point of less than 210° C. and is in an amount of from 0.1 to 20% wt with respect to the total weight of said VDF polymer and said ECTFE polymer.

2. The thermoplastic VDF polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein said VDF polymer comprises:

(a′) at least 80% by moles of vinylidene fluoride (VDF);

(b′) optionally from 0.1 to 15% by moles of a fluorinated comonomer selected from the group consisting of vinylfluoride (VF), chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE), hexafluoropropene (HFP), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), perfluoromethylvinylether (MVE), trifluoroethylene (TrFE) and mixtures therefrom; and

(c′) optionally from 0.1 to 5%, by moles, based on the total amount of monomers (a′) and (b′), of one or more hydrogenated comonomer(s).

3. The thermoplastic VDF polymer composition of claim 2 , wherein said VDF polymer is selected from the group consisting of VDF homopolymers and copolymers of VDF with 0.1 to 10% by moles of a fluorinated comonomer selected from the group consisting of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE), hexafluoropropene (HFP), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), trifluoroethylene (TrFE) and mixtures thereof.

4. The thermoplastic VDF polymer composition of claim 3 , wherein said VDF polymer has a heat of fusion of at least 10 J/g.

5. The thermoplastic VDF polymer composition of any one of claim 1 , wherein said ECTFE polymer comprises:

(a) from 10 to 90% by moles of ethylene (E);

(b) from 90 to 10% by moles of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE); and

(c) from 0 to 30% by moles, based on the total amount of monomers (a) and (b), of one or more fluorinated and/or hydrogenated comonomer(s).

6. The thermoplastic VDF polymer composition of claim 5 , wherein said ECTFE polymer comprises:

(a) from 30 to 50% by moles of ethylene (E);

(b) from 50 to 70% by moles of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE); and

(c) from 0 to 15% by moles, based on the total amount of monomers (a) and (b), of one or more fluorinated and/or hydrogenated comonomer(s).

7. The thermoplastic VDF polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises pigments, filling materials, electrically conductive particles, lubricating agents, heat stabilizer, anti-static agents, extenders, reinforcing agents, organic and/or inorganic pigments, carbon black, acid scavengers, flame-retardants, and smoke-suppressing agents.

8. The thermoplastic VDF polymer composition of claim 1 , said composition comprising at least one UV blocker selected from those based on ZnO and/or TiO 2 .

9. A process for manufacturing a thermoplastic VDF polymer composition including at least one thermoplastic vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymer, comprising at least 85% by recurring units derived from VDF; and at least one ethylene/chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) polymer wherein said ECTFE polymer possesses a melting point of less than 210° C. and is in an amount of from 0.1 to 20% wt with respect to the total weight of said VDF polymer and said ECTFE polymer, said process comprising mixing:

said thermoplastic VDF polymer; and

said ECTFE polymer having a melting point of less than 210° C.

10. The process of claim 9 comprising mixing by dry blending and/or melt compounding the VDF polymer and the ECTFE polymer.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein said process comprises a first step wherein the VDF polymer and the ECTFE polymer are provided under the form of powders and dry blended so as to obtain a powder mixture and a second step wherein said powder mixture is melt compounded.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein said VDF polymer and said ECTFE polymer are directly mixed by melt compounding.

13. Method for manufacturing films comprising using a thermoplastic VDF polymer composition including at least one thermoplastic vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymer, comprising at least 85% by moles of recurring units derived from VDF; and at least one ethylene/chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) polymer, wherein said ECTFE polymer possesses a melting point of less than 210° C. and is in an amount of from 0.1 to 20% wt with respect to the total weight of said VDF polymer and said ECTFE polymer.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising processing said composition under the form of a film by cast extrusion or hot blown extrusion techniques, optionally with mono- or bi-axial orientation.

15. The method according to claim 14 comprising extruding said composition in the molten form through a die having elongated shape so as to obtain an extruded tape and casting/calendering said extruded tape so as to obtain a film.

16. Films obtained from a thermoplastic VDF polymer composition including at least one thermoplastic vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymer, comprising at least 85% by moles of recurring units derived from VDF; and at least one ethylene/chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) polymer, wherein said ECTFE polymer possesses a melting point of less than 210° C. and is in an amount of from 0.1 to 20% wt with respect to the total weight of said VDF polymer and said ECTFE polymer.