Aqueous process for making fluoropolymers

Abstract

A novel aqueous polymerization process for making fluoropolymers is disclosed in which non-ionic non-fluorinated emulsifier is used to produce fluoropolymer emulsions. The emulsifiers used in the invention are those that contain segments of polyethylene glycol and/or polypropylene glycol with repeating units of 3 to 100.

1 . An aqueous fluoropolymer composition comprising; 
 a) a fluoropolymer containing at least 50 mole percent of fluoromonomer units;    b) from 100 ppm to 0.15 percent, based on the weight of the fluoropolymer solids, of one or more emulsifier(s) having polyethylene glycol and/or polypropylene glycol segments with repeating units of from 2 to 100; and    c) no fluorinated surfactants.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The fluoropolymer composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fluoropolymer contains at least 50 mole percent vinylidene fluoride monomer units.  
   
   
       6 . The fluoropolymer composition of  claim 1  wherein said emulsifier having polyethylene glycol and/or polypropylene glycol segments consists of one or more segments of polyethylene glycol acrylate, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol phenol oxide, polypropylene glycol acrylate, and/or polypropylene glycol.  
   
   
       7 . The fluoropolymer composition of  claim 1  wherein said emulsifier(s) have polyethylene glycol and/or polypropylene glycol segments with repeating units of from 3 to 100.  
   
   
       8 .- 15 . (canceled)