Fluorinated Elastic Copolymer Crosslinking Reactivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluorinated elastic copolymers, such as tetrafluoroethylene/propylene copolymers, face challenges with low crosslinking reactivity, slow polymerization rates, poor extrusion moldability, and inadequate properties like permanent compression set resistance and oil resistance, limiting their use in severe environments like solvent-exposed areas.
Innovation Solution
A fluorinated elastic copolymer with a specific molar ratio of tetrafluoroethylene to propylene (63/37 to 75/25) is developed, incorporating iodine atoms, which is copolymerized with a radical polymerization initiator and an iodine compound, enhancing crosslinking reactivity and extrusion moldability, and crosslinked using an organic peroxide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluorinated elastic copolymers are used for their chemical resistance and heat resistance, then reliability is improved, but crosslinking reactivity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing fluorinated chain transfer agents with specific structures (containing iodine atoms and perfluoroalkyl groups) during polymerization. This modifies the polymer's terminal group composition to enhance crosslinking reactivity while preserving the base polymer's chemical resistance properties
Solution Approach 2:
The fluorinated chain transfer agent acts as an intermediary substance during polymerization, introducing reactive functional groups (iodine atoms) at the polymer terminals. These intermediary groups serve as active sites for subsequent peroxide crosslinking reactions, bridging the gap between the inert fluorinated polymer and the crosslinking process
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymerization methods are used, then production is simple, but polymerization rate is slow and productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The fluorinated chain transfer agent serves as a mediator that accelerates the polymerization process by providing active chain transfer sites. The iodine-containing functional groups facilitate faster chain growth and termination kinetics, increasing the overall polymerization rate without complicating the basic process flow
3Reliability
If fluorinated elastic copolymers are used for their inherent properties, then chemical resistance is good, but extrusion moldability is poor and surface smoothness is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the polymer's physical parameters by controlling molecular weight and terminal group composition through the use of fluorinated chain transfer agents. These parameter changes improve the polymer's processability during extrusion while maintaining the fluorinated structure's inherent oil and chemical resistance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting copolymer exhibits improved crosslinking reactivity, extrusion moldability, and enhanced properties like permanent compression set resistance and oil resistance, making it suitable for applications such as electric wire coverings.
Implementation Method 1
copolymerizing tetrafluoroethylene, propylene in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator
Implementation Method 2
a method of copolymerizing a special curable monomer, a method of carrying out polymerization in the presence of a chain transfer agent having a reactive functional group
Implementation Method 3
crosslinked using an organic peroxide
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a fluorinated elastic copolymer which is excellent in crosslinking reactivity and extrusion moldability and which is curable to obtain a rubber excellent in permanent compression set resistance, base resistance and oil resistance and particularly suitable as a covering material for electric wires. A fluorinated elastic copolymer obtained by copolymerizing tetrafluoroethylene, propylene and optionally another monomer, wherein the molar ratio (a)/(b) of repeating units (a) derived from tetrafluoroethylene to repeating units (b) derived from propylene in the fluorinated elastic copolymer is from 60/40 to 75/25, and repeating units (c) derived from said another monomer is from 0 to 10 mol% in the fluorinated elastic copolymer.