Fluoropolymer production method
The present invention aims to provide a method of producing a fluoropolymer, especially a fluoropolymer essentially including a tetrafluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene unit, at a higher polymerization rate with improved efficiency, the method being capable of improving the moldability in extrusion molding and suppressing discoloration. The method of producing a fluoropolymer of the present invention includes producing a fluoropolymer by polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene in the presence of a peroxydicarbonate. The peroxydicarbonate is represented by the formula: R—O—C(═O)—O—O—C(═O)—O—R wherein R's may be the same as or different from each other and individually represent a C4 alkyl group or alkoxy alkyl group.
1. A method of producing a fluoropolymer, comprising producing a fluoropolymer by polymerizing only the following monomers:
(i) tetrafluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene and
(ii) at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of: ethylene; chlorotrifluoroethylene; vinyl fluoride; hexafluoropropylene; hexafluoroisobutene; monomers represented by CH 2 ═CX 1 (CF 2 ) n X 2 , wherein X 1 is H or F, X 2 is H, F, or Cl, and n is an integer of 1 to 10; perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ethers) represented by CF 2 ═CF—ORf 1 , wherein Rf 1 is a C1-C10 perfluoroalkyl group or a C1-C17 perfluoroalkoxy alkyl group; and alkyl perfluorovinyl ether derivatives represented by CF 2 ═CF—OCH 2 —Rf 2 , wherein Rf 2 is a C1-C5 perfluoroalkyl group, in the presence of a peroxydicarbonate,
the peroxydicarbonate being represented by the following formula:
R—O—C(═O)—O—O—C(═O)—O—R
wherein R's may be the same as or different from each other and individually represent a C4 alkyl group or alkoxy alkyl group,
wherein the fluoropolymer is a fluororesin which has a melting point of 160° C. to 320° C., and
wherein the peroxydicarbonate is di-sec-butyl peroxydicarbonate or di-2-ethoxyethyl peroxydicarbonate.
2. The method of producing a fluoropolymer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the tetrafluoroethylene is polymerized with ethylene.
3. The method of producing a fluoropolymer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the tetrafluoroethylene is polymerized with a perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) represented by CF 2 ═CF—ORf 1 wherein Rf 1 is a C1-C10 perfluoroalkyl group or a C1-C17 perfluoroalkoxy alkyl group.
4. The method of producing a fluoropolymer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the tetrafluoroethylene is polymerized with hexafluoropropylene.
5. The method of producing a fluoropolymer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the chlorotrifluoroethylene is polymerized.
6. The method of producing a fluoropolymer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the polymerization is performed by emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization, solution polymerization, or bulk polymerization.