Fluoroelastomer compositions

Abstract

Fluoropolymers comprising a fluoroelastomer matrix incorporating therein particles of a semicrystalline fluoropolymer formed of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) homopolymers or copolymers, wherein the average particle sizes of the semicrystalline fluoropolymer latex range from 10 to 100 nm.

1 - 57 . (canceled) 
   
   
       58 . A fluoropolymer composition comprising a fluoroelastomer matrix incorporating therein particles of a semicrystalline fluoropolymer latex formed by tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) homopolymers, or TFE copolymers with one or more monomers containing at least one unsaturation of ethylene type in amounts ranging from 0.01% to 10% by moles, wherein the average particle sizes of the semicrystalline fluoropolymer latex range from 10 to 100 nm. 
   
   
       59 . The fluoropolymer composition of  claim 58 , said composition being free from metal compounds. 
   
   
       60 . The fluoropolymer composition of  claim 58 , consisting essentially of said fluoroelastomer matrix incorporating said particles, a peroxide capable to generate radicals by thermal decomposition, and a curing cogent. 
   
   
       61 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58  wherein the latex particle sizes of the semicrystalline fluoropolymer range from 10 to 60 nm. 
   
   
       62 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58  obtainable by mixing the semicrystalline fluoropolymer latex with a fluoroelastomer latex and subsequent coagulation. 
   
   
       63 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58  wherein the semicrystalline fluoropolymer amount inside the fluoroelastomer matrix is in the range of 5-30% by weight of the total of the polymeric mixture. 
   
   
       64 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58  wherein the semicrystalline polymer is based on PTFE modified with comonomers with ethylene unsaturation of fluorinated type selected from the group consisting of:
 perfluoroolefins C 3 -C 8 ;   hydrogenated fluorolefins C 2 -C 8 ;   chloro- and/or bromo- and/or iodo-fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ;   (per)fluoroalkylvinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is a (per)fluoroalkyl C 1 -C 6 ;   (per)fluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is: an alkyl C 1 -C 12 , or an oxyalkyl C 1 -C 12 , or a (per)fluoro-oxyalkyl C 1 -C 12  having one or more ether groups; and   fluorodioxoles.   
   
   
       65 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58  wherein the fluoroelastomer is selected from the following classes:
 (1) vinylidene fluoride (VDF)-based copolymers, wherein VDF is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of perfluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ; chloro- and/or bromo- and/or iodo-fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ; (per)fluoroalkyl-vinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is a (per)fluoroalkyl C 1 -C 6 ; perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is a perfluoro-oxyalkyl C 1 -C 12  having one or more ether groups; and non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8 ;   (2) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)-based copolymers, wherein TFE is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of (per)fluoroalkylvinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is as above defined; perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is as above defined; fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8  containing hydrogen and/or chlorine and/or bromine and/or iodine atoms; non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8 ; and perfluorovinylethers containing hydrocyanic groups.   
   
   
       66 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 65  wherein the fluoroelastomer is selected from the following compositions expressed by moles:
 (a) vinylidene fluoride (VDF) 45-85%, hexafluoropropene (HFP) 15-45%, tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) 0-30%;   (b) vinylidene fluoride (VDF) 50-80%, perfluoroalkylvinylether (PAVE) 5-50%, tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) 0-20%;   (c) vinylidene fluoride (VDF) 20-30%, non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8  10-30%, hexafluoropropene (HFP) and/or perfluoroalkylvinylether (PAVE) 18-27%, tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) 10-30%;   (d) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) 50-80%, perfluoroalkylvinylether (PAVE) 20-50%;   (e) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) 45-65%, non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8  20-55%, vinylidene fluoride 0-30%;   (f) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) 32-60% by moles, non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8  10-40%, perfluoroalkylvinylether (PAVE) 20-40%; and   (g) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) 33-75%, perfluoroalkylvinylether (PAVE) 15-45%, vinylidene fluoride (VDF) 5-30%.   
   
   
       67 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58  wherein the fluoroelastomer comprises also monomer units deriving from a bis-olefin having general formula: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein:
 R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , the same or different from each other, are H or alkyls C 1 -C 5 ; Z is a linear or branched alkylene or cycloalkylene C 1 -C 18  radical, optionally containing oxygen atoms, optionally at least partially fluorinated, or a (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene radical, 
 and wherein the amount of said monomer units is in the range of 0.01-1.0% by moles of the other monomer units forming the fluoroelastomer base structure. 
 
   
   
       68 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58 , said composition being curable by a peroxidic route. 
   
   
       69 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58 , said composition consisting essentially of said fluoroelastomer matrix incorporating said particles, a peroxide capable to generate radicals by thermal decomposition, and a curing cogent. 
   
   
       70 . The fluoropolymer composition of  claim 68 , said composition being free from metal compounds. 
   
   
       71 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 69  or  70 , wherein the fluoroelastomer is selected from the following classes:
 (1) vinylidene fluoride (VDF)-based copolymers, wherein VDF is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of perfluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ; chloro- and/or bromo- and/or iodo-fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ; (per)fluoroalkyl-vinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is a (per)fluoroalkyl C 1 -C 6 ; perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is a perfluoro-oxyalkyl C 1 -C 12  having one or more ether groups; and non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8 ;   (2) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)-based copolymers, wherein TFE is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of (per)fluoroalkylvinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is as above defined; perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is as above defined; fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8  containing hydrogen and/or chlorine and/or bromine and/or iodine atoms; non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8 ; and perfluorovinylethers containing hydrocyanic groups.   
   
   
       72 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58 , wherein said fluoroelastomer contains cyano groups and wherein the composition is curable by tin organic compounds and/or di-aromatic aminic compounds. 
   
   
       73 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 72 , said composition consisting essentially of said fluoroelastomer containing said cyano groups and incorporating said particles, and at least one of a tin organic compounds and a di-aromatic aminic compounds. 
   
   
       74 . The fluoropolymer composition of  claim 72 , said composition being free from metal compounds. 
   
   
       75 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 73  or  74 , wherein the fluoroelastomer is selected from the following classes:
 (1) vinylidene fluoride (VDF)-based copolymers, wherein VDF is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of perfluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ; chloro- and/or bromo- and/or iodo-fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ; (per)fluoroalkyl-vinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is a (per)fluoroalkyl C 1 -C 6 ; perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is a perfluoro-oxyalkyl C 1 -C 12  having one or more ether groups; and non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8 ;   (2) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)-based copolymers, wherein TFE is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of (per)fluoroalkylvinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is as above defined; perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is as above defined; fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8  containing hydrogen and/or chlorine and/or bromine and/or iodine atoms; non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8 ; and perfluorovinylethers containing hydrocyanic groups.   
   
   
       76 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 58 , wherein said fluoroelastomer contains cyano groups and iodine and/or bromine atoms in the polymeric chain, and wherein the composition is curable by combined tin organic compounds and/or di-aromatic aminic compounds and peroxidic route. 
   
   
       77 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 76 , said composition consisting essentially of said fluoroelastomer matrix incorporating said particles, and one or more of:
 a peroxide capable to generate radicals by thermal decomposition;   a curing cogent;   a tin organic compound; and   a di-aromatic aminic compound.   
   
   
       78 . The fluoropolymer composition of  claim 76 , said composition being free from metal compounds. 
   
   
       79 . The fluoropolymer composition according to  claim 77  or  78 , wherein the fluoroelastomer is selected from the following classes:
 (1) vinylidene fluoride (VDF)-based copolymers, wherein VDF is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of perfluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ; chloro- and/or bromo- and/or iodo-fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8 ; (per)fluoroalkyl-vinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is a (per)fluoroalkyl C 1 -C 6 ; perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is a perfluoro-oxyalkyl C 1 -C 12  having one or more ether groups; and non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8 ;   (2) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)-based copolymers, wherein TFE is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of (per)fluoroalkylvinylethers (PAVE) CF 2 ═CFOR f , wherein R f  is as above defined; perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF 2 ═CFOX, wherein X is as above defined; fluoroolefins C 2 -C 8  containing hydrogen and/or chlorine and/or bromine and/or iodine atoms; non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C 2 -C 8 ; and perfluorovinylethers containing hydrocyanic groups.