Fluorine-containing copolymer and method of preparing the same

Details Fluorine-containing copolymer and method of preparing the same Fluorine-containing copolymer and method of preparing the same

1991-03-07

1993-01-05

Schofer, Joseph L.

Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser

Synthetic resins

Polymers from only ethylenic monomers or processes of...

526247, 526255, C08F 1418

Patent

active

051771667

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel fluorinecontaining copolymers and processes for preparing them.
2. Background of the Invention
As fluorine-containing copolymers are well known copolymers of fluoroolefins such as tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and straight or branched chain olefins such as ethylene, propylene and alkyl vinyl ether. Since these fluorine-containing copolymers can be subjected to melt molding such as extrusion molding and injection molding and have excellent heat resistance, water resistance, weather resistance and like properties which are peculiar to fluororesins, they are useful as materials for container, heat or electric insulator, weather resistant film, etc.
Among the above fluorine-containing copolymers, copolymers of ethylene (E) and fluoroolefin are especially known as ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer), ECTFE (ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer), etc. However, these copolymers are not applicable to optical materials since they are crystallizable and thus low in transparency. The copolymers are also not applicable to coating materials because of insolubility in organic solvents.
Further, copolymers of propylene, alkyl vinyl ether or the like and fluoroolefin are well dissolved in organic solvents. However, their low glass transition point of below 50.degree. C. requires crosslinking before use, if heat resistance is required.
In recent years, there are known polymers which have cyclic structures in the main chains prepared by cyclic polymerization of perfluoroether (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 238111/1988). However, these copolymers are expensive since the monomers to be used are difficult to prepare. The copolymers are also costly and not preferable, because only special fluorinecontaining compounds can be used for solvents when the copolymers are applied to coating.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors conducted extensive research in view of the above problems and found that specific unsaturated compounds are copolymerized in the presence of radical polymerization initiators to prepare copolymers which have high glass transition point (Tg) and are excellent in solubility to organic solvent, transparency, heat resistance, low water absorption properties, mechanical properties, weather resistance, etc.
The present invention provides the following fluorine-containing copolymers and processes for preparing the same:
A fluorine-containing copolymer comprising at least one fluoroolefin and at least one cyclic unsaturated compound selected from the compounds represented by the formulas (I) and (II) ##STR2## wherein each of n and m is 0 or a positive integer and preferably 0 or an integer of from 1 to 3, l is an integer of 3 or more than 3 and preferably 3 or 4, and R.sup.1 to R.sup.10 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom a hydrocarbon group or a substituted hydrocarbon group (hereinafter referred to as "copolymer A"); and a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising at least one fluoroolefin, at least one cyclic unsaturated compound selected from the compounds represented by the above formulas (I) and (II) and at least one of mono- and diolefins (hereinafter referred to as "copolymer B").
In the present invention, the fluoroolefins are preferably monoalkenes of 2 or 3 carbon atoms in which at least one hydrogen atom attached to the carbon atoms having a double bond is replaced by a fluorine atom and in which other hydrogen atoms are optionally replaced by chlorine atoms or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 perfluoroalkoxy groups. Such fluoroolefins include CF.sub.2 .dbd.CF.sub.2, CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFORf (Rf is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 perfluoroalkyl), CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFCl, CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFCF.sub.3, CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFH, CF.sub.2 .dbd.CH.sub.2, CFH.dbd.CH.sub.2, etc, although not limited to these examples. Among these, tetrafluoroethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene are preferable.
In the formula (I) or (II) representing cyclic unsaturated compounds to be used

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