Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft

Jurgen Kuhls

Herbert Fitz

Robert Hartwimmer

Peter Herbrechtsmeier

Axel Walch

Gerhard Wieners

Wolfgang Michel

Walter Seifried

Manfred Tschacher

Eduard Weiss

Alfred Steininger

Jurgen Wildhardt

Gottfried Burgstaller

Thomas Martini

Reinhard Albert Sulzbach

Juergen Wildhardt

Franz Mayer

Peter Haasemann

An optical waveguide having a core-sheath structure whose core comprises a terpolymer based on vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene, is suitable for transmission paths of ca. 10 to ca. 100 m and can also be used at a temperature of above 100.degree. C. without significant reduction of the transmission path.

Optical waveguide

An optical waveguide having a core/sheath structure whose sheath comprises a polymer which is based on vinylidene fluoride and at least one other vinyl monomer containing fluorine and has been modified and crosslinked with a trisalkoxyvinylsilane, is suitable for transmission paths of ca. 10 to 100 m and can also be used at a temperature above 100.degree. C. without any significant reduction in the transmission path.

An optical waveguide having a core/sheath structure whose sheath comprises a terpolymer based on vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluorpropylene, is suitable for transmission paths of ca. 10 to 100 m and can also be used at a temperature of above 100.degree. C. without significant reduction of the transmission path.

Optical waveguide with polymer core and polymer cladding

A process for the continuous agglomeration of granular tetrafluoroethylene polymer powders which cannot be processed from the melt to give molding powders having a high bulk density, an improved powder flow and particle stability and a narrow particle size distribution is described. In this process, the powder to be agglomerated is first introduced uniformly into a pretreatment stage and is dispersed and pre-agglomerated in this stage in the liquid agglomeration medium, composed of water and an organic liquid capable of wetting polytetrafluoroethylene, is then agglomerated to the desired average particle diameter in an agglomeration stage and is finally treated further in an after-treatment stage in order to develop the final shape of the particles. Finally, the powder is separated from the liquid medium and is dried. This makes it possible to obtain, in an economical manner and with excellent processing properties, high-grade agglomerated molding powders of such tetrafluoroethylene polymers, in particular of such polymers which have been modified with small quantities of perfluoro-(alkyl-vinyl) ethers.

Molding powder comprising agglomerated particles of PTFE compounds

The invention relates to films and tubular structures which are selectively permeable to liquids and gases which are based on a copolymer composed of a copolymerized fluorinated olefin, copolymerized vinyl acetate and, optionally, a copolymerized olefin. It is possible for the acetate groups of the copolymer to have been saponified to form OH groups. The films or tubular structures have in each case an inherent, latent capacity for modifying their structure and are at the same time oleophobic and oleophilic. The invention also embraces processes for the preparation of the shaped articles described and processes for modifying their structure. The invention also relates to the use of shaped articles according to the invention.

Shaped articles which are composed of a copolymer containing fluorine

The present invention relates to molded articles of an open-cell structure, containing a copolymer which is comprised of copolymerized, fluorinated olefin, copolymerized vinyl acetate and optionally copolymerized olefin, the acetate groups of the copolymer being optionally saponified into OH groups. The molded articles possess an inherent latent structural convertibility and have effective pores of a diameter in the range from 0.002 to 10 .mu.m. The invention further includes processes for the preparation of the specified molded articles and processes for converting their structure. The invention also relates to several uses of molded articles according to the invention.

Open-cell/microporous molded article

A process for the continuous agglomeration of granular tetrafluoroethylene polymer powders which cannot be processed from the melt to give molding powders having a high bulk density, an improved powder flow and particle stability and a narrow particle size distribution is described. In this process, the powder to be agglomerated is first introduced uniformly into a pretreatment stage and is dispersed and pre-agglomerated in this stage in the liquid agglomeration medium, composed of water and an organic liquid capable of wetting polytetrafluoroethylene, is then agglomerated to the desired average particle diameter in an agglomeration stage and is finally treated further in an after-treatment stage in order to develop the final shape of the particles. Finally, the powder is separated from the liquid medium and is dried. This makes it possible to obtain, in an economical manner and with excellent processing properties, high-grade agglomerated molding powders of such tetrafluoroethylene polymers, in particular of such polymers which have been modifed with small quantities of perfluoro-(alkyl-vinyl) ethers.

Continuous process for the agglomeration of PTFE powders in a liquid

Free-flowing sintering powders based on polymers containing at least 98.5% by weight of tetrafluoroethylene units can be prepared from colloidal polymer dispersions obtained in a customary manner by emulsion polymerization, stirring being carried out initially, optionally with the addition of an inorganic salt, until thickening, indicated by optical inhomogeneities, is achieved, an organic liquid which wets the polymer particles and is soluble in water to the extent of not more than 15% by weight then being added and stirring then being continued until granules are produced. The polymers preferably contain up to 1.5% by weight of polymerized units of at least one modifying, perfluorinated monomer. The free-flowing sintering powders have a high bulk density, an excellent flow time and further advantageous properties. They can be provided with customary fillers and are suitable for ram extrusion and for press-sinter processing to give sintered blocks and subsequently veneer-cut films.

Free-flowing sintering powders which have improved properties and are

Fluoropolymer dispersions containing colloidal particles of a partially modified tetrafluoroethylene polymer, the fluoropolymer resin powder obtained therefrom by coagulation and a process for the preparation of the dispersions mentioned are described. The particles have a three-shell particle structure, the particle core and the other particle shell consisting of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer provided with a modifying fluoro-olefinic comonomer and the inner particle shell consisting of tetrafluoroethylene homopolymer. Fluoro-olefins, perfluoro-olefins, halogenofluoro-olefins and completely or partially fluorinated vinyl ethers are used as the modifying comonomers. The preparation is effected by the seed technique or intermediate letting down method, the modified core being formed in the first phase and the modifying comonomer being subsequently metered into the continuing tetrafluoroethylene polymerization in the second phase. The resins obtained are particularly suitable for the paste extrusion process for producing cable insulation and highly stretchable, unsintered tapes, and, after appropriate working up, also for the ram extrusion and the press-sinter technique.

Fluoropolymers with shell-modified particles, and processes for their

Aqueous colloidal dispersions of fluorinated polymers can be concentrated, after adding a stabilizing emulsifier, to high solids contents by ultrafiltration over customary semi-permeable membranes if pumps which keep the dispersion free from contact with components which cause frictional forces are used for conveying the dispersion. A considerable proportion of the stabilizing emulsifier added and high proportions of the fluorine-containing emulsifier originally contained in the fluorinated polymer dispersion from the emulsion polymerization can be removed via the aqueous permeate. The fluorine-containing emulsifier can be recovered by a downwstream basic anion exchanger and the stabilizing emulsifier contained in the filtrate flowing out of the anion exchanger can be concentrated in this filtrate by reverse osmosis and optionally recycled into the ultrafiltration process. Fluorinated polymer dispersions which, in addition to having a high solids content, are distinguished by particularly low contents of fluorine-containing emulsifier and of stabilizing emulsifier can be obtained. The process can be applied to all known aqueous, colloidal dispersions of fluorinated homopolymers and copolymers.

Concentrated dispersions of fluorinated polymers and process for their

Free-flowing sintering powders based on polymers containing at least 98.5% by weight of tetrafluoroethylene units can be prepared from colloidal polymer dispersions obtained in a customary manner by emulsion polymerization, stirring being carried out initially, optionally with the addition of an inorganic salt, until thickening, indicated by optical inhomogeneities, is achieved, an organic liquid which wets the polymer particles and is soluble in water to the extent of not more than 15% by weight then being added and stirring then being continued until granules are produced. The polymers preferably contain up to 1.5% by weight of polymerized units of at least one modifying, perfluorinated monomer. The free-flowing sintering powders have a high bulk density, an excellent flow time and further advantageous properties. They can be provided with customary fillers and are suitable for ram extrusion and for press-sintering processing to give sintered blocks and subsequently veneer-cut films.

To elute fluorinated emulsifying acids, especially perfluoro-carboxylic acids, from basic anion exchangers a mixture of dilute mineral acid and polar organic solvents is used. The solvent should be miscible with water preferably to an extent of at least 40%. By this process the required amount of eluent and the time of elution can be reduced while simultaneously the amount of recovered emulsifying acid can be improved. The process is especially suitable for the recovery of fluorinated emulsifiers in the coagulation or concentration of fluoropolymer latices.

Recovery of fluorinated emulsifying acids from basic anion exchangers

Mixtures of (a) copolymers of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene, which in addition optionally contain up to 10 mole % of units of at least one ethylenically mono-unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with tetrafluoroethylene, with (b) phosphorus acids which in one of their tautomeric forms contain 2 or 3 oxygen atoms and 1 or 2 hydrogen atoms directly bonded to each phosphorus atom, or with salts of such acids, are described. These mixtures possess improved heat stability and can, where appropriate with interpolation of a melt granulation process, be used, in particular, for the coating of metals. Component (b) is added to the copolymer (a) in the dry form or preferably in the form of a solution during working up, and in particular is added either to the pulverulent copolymer or, more especially, to a moist product, isolated from dispersions, after the last washing process.

Stabilized copolymers based on ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene, and

The invention relates to a process for the copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with perfluorinated alkylvinyl ethers of the formula

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Burghausen, Germany

Jurgen Kuhls