Fluoropolymer Composition for Architectural Films

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluoropolymer compositions struggle to balance mechanical properties and transparency, with semi-crystalline ECTFE films offering excellent transparency but reduced mechanical resistance, while ETFE films have good mechanical properties but poor transparency.

Innovation Solution

A thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition comprising 51-99% of polymer A with an excess of halogenated recurring units from ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene, combined with 1-49% of polymer B containing hexafluoroisobutylene or perfluoropropylvinylether recurring units, to achieve films with improved mechanical resistance and transparency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If semi-crystalline ECTFE is used to improve transparency, then optical properties are improved, but mechanical resistance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidmechanical resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite material system consisting of polymer A (semi-crystalline ECTFE with 40-49 mol% ethylene) and polymer B (fluorinated polymer with HFIB/PPVE units). This composite combines the transparency benefits of semi-crystalline ECTFE with the mechanical strength provided by the fluorinated polymer containing hexafluoroisobutylene and/or perfluoropropylvinylether units, resolving the contradiction between optical properties and mechanical resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If ETFE is used to improve mechanical properties, then strength is improved, but transparency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical propertiesVSAvoidtransparency
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating a blend where polymer A (51-99 wt%) provides the transparency function while polymer B (1-49 wt%) provides the mechanical strength function. Each polymer component is optimized for its specific function, with the overall composition achieving both excellent transparency and mechanical properties through this functional differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20230272135A1Fluoropolymer composition
Publication Date: 2023.08.31 SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS ITALY SPA

AI summary

The invention pertains to a thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition comprising one or more polymer A comprising recurring units derived from ethylene and recurring units derived from halogenated monomers selected from chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and one or more polymer B comprising recurring units derived from ethylene, recurring units derived from halogenated monomers selected from CTFE and TFE, and recurring units derived from hexafluoroisobutylene (HFIB) and/or perfluoropropylvinylether (PPVE). The resulting composition allows to manufacture films having exceptional transparency and good mechanical properties which can be used for examples as architectural films.