Solvay Specialty Polymers Italy S.p.a.

Entegris, Inc.

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Rhodia Operations

Claudio Oldani

Luca Merlo

Alessandro Ghielmi

Alessandro Veneroni

Vito Tortelli

Alketa Gjoka

Elvira Pagano

Ven Anantha Raman

Matthias Gebert

Martina Corasaniti

Giuseppe Marchionni

Vincenzo Arcella

Pier Antonio Guarda

Ivan Diego Wlassics

Yan Zhao

Claudia Manzoni

Floryan Decampo

Stefano Bossolo

Cristiano Monzani

Silvia Rita Petricci

Zhaoyu Fan

Pierluigi Barbaro

Francesca Liguori

Xiaoshuang Feng

Carmen Moreno-Marrodan

Stefano Tonella

Antonio Salvatore Arico

Claudia D'Urso

Vincenzo Baglio

Claudia D' Urso

Allessandro Ghielmi

Allessandro Veneroni

The invention pertains to a method of making fluoropolymer dispersions using certain polymeric derivatives including a plurality of ionisable groups selected from the group consisting of &#x2014;SOX, &#x2014;POXand &#x2014;COOX, whereas Xis H, an ammonium group or a monovalent metal, and to fluoropolymer dispersions therefrom.

Method for making fluoropolymers

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a cross-linked polymer comprising reacting at least one polymer having at least one &#x2014;SOX group, with X being F or Cl, a basic compound, and certain salts including a ring-quaternized pyridinium-type nitrogen, and possessing at least two groups in ortho or para position thereto comprising reactive hydrogen atoms; cross-linking has been proven to proceed effectively, delivering cross-linked polymers possessing improved chemical resistance and mechanical performances.

Method for cross-linking polymers

The present invention relates to a liquid composition comprising a polymer bearing &#x2014;SO3H groups and a perfluoroelastomer, a method for manufacturing said liquid composition and an article manufactured by using said composition. Preferably, said article is a proton exchange membrane, which shows at the same time good mechanical resistance and electrochemical properties and is useful for example as separator in fuel cells.

Liquid composition for proton exchange membranes

The invention relates to a process for the isolation of (per)fluorinated polymers containing sulfonyl fluoride functional groups from a polymerization latex. The process comprises adding the polymerization latex to an aqueous electrolyte solution under high shear stirring at a temperature equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The invention further relates to the (per)fluorinated polymers containing sulfonyl fluoride functional groups isolated by the process and characterised by a loss of weight at 200&#xb0; C. lower than 1% as determined by thermogravimetric analysis.

Process for the isolation of sulfonyl fluoride polymers and polymers obtained therefrom

Microporous membrane composites that are non-dewetting are disclosed. These microporous membrane composites are wet with solutions of methanol and water and are non-dewetting following autoclave treatment in water. The microporous membrane composites comprise a microporous membrane support that is coated with a crosslinked ionomer comprising hydrophilic groups. Compared to the microporous membrane support, the microporous membrane composite has a flow loss on average in isopropyl alcohol of less than 82%.

Non-dewetting porous membranes

A liquid composition comprising at least one aprotic organic solvent and at least one fluorinated ion exchange polymer which consists of recurring units derived from a chlorofluoroolefin of formula CF&#x2550;CCIY, wherein Y is F or CI, and from at least one fluorinated functional monomer selected among those of formula CF&#x2550;CF&#x2014;O&#x2014;(CFCF(CF)O)&#x2014;(CF)SOX, wherein m is an integer equal to 0 or 1, n is an integer from 0 to 10 and X is chosen among halogens (CI, F, Br, I), &#x2014;OM, wherein Mis a cation selected among H, NH, K, Li, Na, or mixtures thereof is disclosed. The liquid composition is suitable for the preparation of ion exchange membranes, in particular composite membranes, for use in fuel cell applications.

Liquid compositions of fluorinated ion exchange polymers

The present invention relates to a process for the one-pot hydrogenation and dehydration or isomerization of an organic compound, and to a catalyst composition for this process comprising transition metal particles having particle size below 50 nm supported on a material comprising at least one fluorinated polymer (P), wherein polymer (P) bears &#x2014;SOX functional groups, X being selected from X' and OM, X&#x2032; being selected from the groups consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; and M being selected from the group consisting of H, and alkaline metal and NH.

One-pot process using heterogeneous catalyst

Disclosed is a process for preparing at least one ether compound, comprising reacting at least one alcohol (I) with at least one polyol (II) in the presence of a functional polymer [polymer (F)] as a catalyst (X), wherein: the alcohol (I) is represented by the general formula (1): R1-OH (1) wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 36 carbon atoms, the polyol (II) is represented by the general formula (2): R2-(OH) m (2) wherein R2 represents the skeleton moiety of the polyol and m is an integer of from 2 to 20, and polymer (F) is a polymer comprising recurring units derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer [monomer (M)] and bearing at least one cation exchange group. Further disclosed is a surfactant composition obtained by said process, and featuring an excellent detergency performance.

Surfactant composition comprising ether compound and catalytic process for manufacturing thereof

A mixed oxide of Si and at least one metal M comprising inorganic groups &#x2014;SOH. The addition of the mixed oxide to fluorinated polymers containing sulfonic acid functional groups increases their stability towards radical degradation when used in fuel cell applications.

Mixed metallic oxides as scavengers for fluorinated ion exchange polymers

A process for reducing the amount of soluble polymeric fractions in a sulfonyl fluoride polymer. The process comprises contacting the sulfonyl fluoride polymer with a fluorinated fluid followed by separation of the polymer from the fluid. The fluorinated fluid is selected from hydrofluoroethers and hydrofluoropolyethers. The invention further relates to sulfonyl fluoride polymers obtainable by the process and having a heat of fusion not exceeding 4 J/g and containing less than 15% by weight of polymeric fractions having an average content of monomeric units comprising a sulfonyl functional group exceeding 24 mole %. The sulfonyl fluoride polymers so obtained are particularly suitable for the preparation of ionomeric membranes for use in electrochemical devices.

Process for the treatment of sulfonyl fluoride polymers

Liquid compositions of fluorinated anion exchange polymers

The present invention pertains a fluoropolymer [polymer (F)] comprising: &#x2014;recurring units derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated fluorinated monomer [monomer (FM)]; &#x2014;from 5% to 60% by moles [with respect to the total moles of recurring units of polymer (F)] of recurring units derived at least one ethylenically unsaturated fluorinated monomer containing at least one &#x2014;SOF functional group [monomer (IO)]; and &#x2014;from 0.01% to 10% by moles [with respect to the total moles of recurring units of polymer (F)] of recurring units derived from at least one monomer comprising an azide group [monomer (Az)], to a process for its manufacture, to a cross-linkable composition comprising the same, to a process for cross-linking the same and to articles comprising the cross-linked polymer.

Cross-linkable polymers comprising sulfonic acid functional groups

A process for the preparation of cross-linked fluorinated polymers comprising sulfonic acid functional groups comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one fluorinated polymer (P) comprising at least one &#x2014;SOM functional group and less than 2% of &#x2014;SOF functional groups with respect to the total amount of &#x2014;SO3M and &#x2014;SOF functional groups, wherein each M is selected from H and alkaline metals; and b) reacting said fluorinated polymer with at least one cross-linking agent of formula R(X)n under conditions that promote the formation of covalent bonds between the at least one functional group &#x2014;SOM of fluorinated polymer (P) and at least one functional group X of the cross-linking agent.

Process for the preparation of cross-linked fluorinated polymers

The present invention provides a fluorinated ionomer [polymer (I)] comprising recurring units derived from at least the following monomers: (i) 5 to 50% by weight of a fluorinated monomer [monomer (A)] containing at least one &#x2014;SOX functionality, preferably having the formula of CF&#x2550;CF&#x2014;O&#x2014;(CFCF(CF)O)&#x2014;(CF)SOX (I) wherein m is 0 or 1, n is an integer between 0-10, and X is selected from F, OH, and OMe, wherein Meindicates an alkali metal ion or an ammonium cation of formula NRwhere each R independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic radical selected from aliphatic radicals having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and arylic or alicyclic radicals having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms; (ii) a non-functional fluorinated monomer [monomer (B)] having at least one ethylene unsaturation; and (iii) a fluorinated polyfunctional compound having the general formula: (CRR&#x2550;CFCF&#x2014;O)&#x2014;R&#x2014;((O)&#x2014;CF&#x2550;CRR)(II) wherein: a is an integer equal to or larger than 1, preferably a is 1, 2, or 3; b is 0 or 1 and the sum of a and b is an integer equal to or larger than 2; c is 0 or 1; R, R, Rand Rare independently selected from F, H, alkyl, alkoxy, polyoxy alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkoxy or perfluoropolyoxy alkyl, preferably F; and Rrepresents a hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon group having at least two carbon atoms. The low-EW perfluorinated ionomers made of polymer (I) are adapted to be processed into thin films, which are found to have superior physical stability than the existing products and are thus well suited for low humidity or high temperature electrochemical applications. Moreover, these low-EW ionomers are melt processable and have limited loss of volatile substances at their melt processing temperatures.

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Nerviano, Italy

Claudio Oldani