Curable fluorocopolymer formed from tetrafluoropropene

Abstract

The present invention is directed to partially fluorinated copolymers and the production thereof. More specifically, the copolymers, which are preferably produced by a solution polymerization process, preferably have at least three units, the first unit selected from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, the second unit having a polymerized monomer selected from the vinyl esters and vinyl ethers, and the third unit having a polymerized monomer derived from a hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether. The resulting copolymer is environmentally friendly, has favorable molecular weight characteristics, and may be shipped economically in high concentration.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A copolymer composition comprising a copolymer, the copolymer comprising: (a) a first unit comprising a polymerized monomer of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-propene; (b) a second unit comprising a polymerized monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl esters and vinyl ethers; and (c) a third unit comprising a polymerized monomer comprising a hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether. 
     
     
         12 . The copolymer composition of  claim 11 , wherein the copolymer comprises 40 to 60 mol % of said first unit. 
     
     
         13 . The copolymer composition of  claim 12 , wherein the copolymer comprises 5 to 45 mol % of said second unit, wherein said second unit is selected from the group consisting of alkyl vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The copolymer composition of  claim 13 , wherein the copolymer comprises 3 to 30 mol % of said third unit, wherein said second unit consists of hydroxyalkyl vinyl ethers. 
     
     
         15 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said copolymer consists essentially of said polymerized 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, vinyl esters, vinyl ethers; and hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether(s). 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the copolymer has a number average molecular weight of between 5000 and 50000. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the copolymer has a number average molecular weight of between 5000 and 10000. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein the composition further comprises a solvent. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein said solvent comprises 15-25 wt % of said composition. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein said composition comprises at least 70 wt % of said copolymer. 
     
     
         25 . A process for the production of the copolymer of  claim 11 , wherein said monomers are polymerized in a solution to produce the copolymer. 
     
     
         26 . A copolymer composition comprising a copolymer, the copolymer comprising:
 (a) from 40 mol % to 60 mol % of polymerized monomers of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;   (b) from 5 mol % to 45 mol % of polymerized monomers of vinyl esters, or vinyl ethers, or a combination thereof; and   (c) from 3 mol % to 30 mol % of polymerized monomers of hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether(s).   
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein said vinyl ester is a compound of formula CH 2 ═CR 1 —O(C═O)R 2 , and said vinyl ether is a compound of formula CH 2 ═CR 3 —OR 4 , wherein each of R 1  and R 3  individually is hydrogen or a methyl group, and wherein each of R 2  and R 4  individually is an unsubstituted straight-chain, branched-chain or alicyclic alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein said vinyl ester is a vinyl versatate ester formed from a C9 carboxylic acid or a vinyl versatate ester formed from a C10 carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein said hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether(s) is a compound of formula CH 2 ═CR 5 —OR 6 , wherein R 5  is hydrogen or a methyl group, and R 6  is an unsubstituted straight-chain, branched-chain or alicyclic alkyl group having a hydroxyl groups. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein said vinyl ether is ethyl vinyl ether. 
     
     
         31 . A copolymer composition comprising a copolymer, the copolymer comprising:
 (a) from 45 mol % to 55 mol % of polymerized monomers of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;   (b) from 25 mol % to 45 mol % of polymerized monomers of ethyl vinyl ether and a vinyl versatate ester formed from a C10 carboxylic acid; and   (c) from 5 mol % to 20 mol % of polymerized monomers comprising hydroxyl butyl vinyl ether.   
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 31  wherein said composition comprises at least 70 wt. % of said copolymer. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 31  wherein said composition further comprises a solvent. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33  wherein said solvent comprises 15-25 wt % of said composition.