Fluoropolymers resistant to stress cracking

US6984697B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Thomas J. Blong · Woodbury, US
• Lisa P. Chen · Okabena, US
• Ralph Kaulbach · Emmerting, DE
• Friedrich Kloos · Mainz, DE
• Georg Burkard · Tönning, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 7, 2003
• Grant date: Jan 10, 2006
• Expiry date: Apr 20, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08F214/262
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention provides a fluorothermoplastic composition comprising interpolymerized units derived from about 94 to about 97.5 mole percent (mol %) tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), about 2 to about 3 mol % perfluoro (propyl vinyl ether) (PPVE), and about 0.5 to about 3 mol % hexafluoropropylene (HFP). The invention also provides a fluorothermoplastic composition comprising interpolymerized units derived from about 94 to about 97 mol % TFE, about 0.75 to about 3 mol % PPVE, and about 1.5 to about 3.5 mol % HFP. These fluorothermoplastic compositions have a flex life that fits the equation:log(flex life cycles)≧0.71+4.0*(MFI(−0.294)),a method of making fluorothermoplastic compositions, a method of improving stress crack resistance, and fluorothermoplastic articles.