Virginia Commonwealth University

Daikin Institute of Advanced Chemistry and Technology (Dai-Act)

Takako Ohsaka

Kenneth Joseph Wynne

Suresh Shenoy

Sadashige Irie

Fluoropolymer materials containing tetrafluoroethylene monomers, such as PTFE, are significantly swollen by supercritical carbon dioxide at high temperatures and pressures. The swollen fluoropolymer is processable by molding, extrusion, and other techniques. In addition, the fluoropolymer may be sintered at significantly lower temperatures compared to a nonswollen fluoropolymer material. The melting temperature of fluorinated polymers containing tetrafluoroethylene and triflouroethylene monomers which are swollen with supercritical carbon dioxide is significantly reduced, thereby permitting manufacturing operations such as extruding and molding to be performed at lower temperatures and with reduced risk of decomposition.

Growing community of inventors

Minoh, Japan

Takako Ohsaka