A coated optical fiber includes an optical fiber having a core and an outer surface, and a homogeneous polymer coating in contact with the outer surface of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the homogeneous polymer coating are UV transparent, and a refractive index of the outer surface of the optical fiber or the homogeneous polymer coating is up to 15% less than a refractive index of the core. Coating the optical fiber includes coating an outer surface with a polymerizable material and polymerizing the polymerizerable material to yield the coated optical fiber having a homogeneous polymer coating. The optical fiber and the homogeneous polymer coating are UV transparent, and a refractive index of the outer surface of the optical fiber or the homogeneous polymer coating is up to 15% less than a refractive index of a core of the optical fiber.

A coated optical fiber includes an optical fiber having a core and an outer surface, and a homogeneous polymer coating in contact with the outer surface of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the homogeneous polymer coating are UV transparent, and a refractive index of the outer surface of the optical fiber or the homogeneous polymer coating is up to 15% less than a refractive index of the core. Coating the optical fiber includes coating an outer surface with a polymerizable material and polymerizing the polymerizerable material to yield the coated optical fiber having a homogeneous polymer coating. The optical fiber and the homogeneous polymer coating are UV transparent, and a refractive index of the outer surface of the optical fiber or the homogeneous polymer coating is up to 15% less than a refractive index of a core of the optical fiber.

The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a fluoropolymer composite, said process comprising the following sequential steps: (i) providing an aqueous latex comprising from 10% to 40% by weight, preferably from 15% to 35% by weight of at least one fluoropolymer comprising recurring units derived from vinylidene fluoride (VDF) [polymer (VDF)]; (ii) up-concentrating the aqueous latex provided in step (i) thereby providing an up-concentrated aqueous latex comprising from 45% to 60% by weight, preferably from 45% to 55% by weight of at least one polymer (VDF); (iii) contacting one continuous fiber or a bunch of continuous fibers with the up-concentrated aqueous latex provided in step (ii); (iv) squeezing the impregnated fibrous material provided in step (iii); (v) drying the squeezed fibrous material provided in step (iv), typically at a temperature comprised between 100 C. and 120 C.; (vi) baking the dried fibrous material provided in step (v) at a temperature comprised between 190 C. and 240 C.; (vii) cooling the coated fibrous material provided in step (vi), preferably to a temperature of about 20 C.; (viii) optionally, contacting the coated fibrous material provided in step (vii) with the up-concentrated aqueous latex provided in step (ii) and submitting the impregnated fibrous material so provided to sequential steps (iv) to (vii); and (ix) optionally, repeating step (viii) one or more times. The present invention also pertains to the fluoropolymer composite thereby provided and to uses of said fluoropolymer composite in various applications.

The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a fluoropolymer composite, said process comprising the following sequential steps: (i) providing an aqueous latex comprising from 10% to 40% by weight, preferably from 15% to 35% by weight of at least one fluoropolymer comprising recurring units derived from vinylidene fluoride (VDF) [polymer (VDF)]; (ii) up-concentrating the aqueous latex provided in step (i) thereby providing an up-concentrated aqueous latex comprising from 45% to 60% by weight, preferably from 45% to 55% by weight of at least one polymer (VDF); (iii) contacting one continuous fiber or a bunch of continuous fibers with the up-concentrated aqueous latex provided in step (ii); (iv) squeezing the impregnated fibrous material provided in step (iii); (v) drying the squeezed fibrous material provided in step (iv), typically at a temperature comprised between 100 C. and 120 C.; (vi) baking the dried fibrous material provided in step (v) at a temperature comprised between 190 C. and 240 C.; (vii) cooling the coated fibrous material provided in step (vi), preferably to a temperature of about 20 C.; (viii) optionally, contacting the coated fibrous material provided in step (vii) with the up-concentrated aqueous latex provided in step (ii) and submitting the impregnated fibrous material so provided to sequential steps (iv) to (vii); and (ix) optionally, repeating step (viii) one or more times. The present invention also pertains to the fluoropolymer composite thereby provided and to uses of said fluoropolymer composite in various applications.

A non-porous composite is provided that includes a textile substrate impregnated with a first fluoropolymer and a film of polymeric material comprising at least one second fluoropolymer filled with porous particles of a silicate having a granulometric dimension d50 less than or equal to 5 m and a porosity ranging from 30 to 60% in volume and loaded with antibacterial ions of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, zinc and nickel. A method for production of the composite and a containing and/or transport element for a fluid, preferably water, produced with the composite, are also provided.

A non-porous composite is provided that includes a textile substrate impregnated with a first fluoropolymer and a film of polymeric material comprising at least one second fluoropolymer filled with porous particles of a silicate having a granulometric dimension d50 less than or equal to 5 m and a porosity ranging from 30 to 60% in volume and loaded with antibacterial ions of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, zinc and nickel. A method for production of the composite and a containing and/or transport element for a fluid, preferably water, produced with the composite, are also provided.

An optical fiber with a double-clad fluoride with low loss and high pump absorption efficiency, and its preparation method are provided. The gain optical fiber with the double-clad fluoride includes a fiber core, a D-shaped inner cladding, an outer cladding, and a polymer coating, wherein the fiber core, the inner cladding, and the outer cladding are all fluoride glass materials, and the polymer coating is a fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer. The fiber core and inner cladding structure are prepared by a suction injection method, and the inner cladding is polished into a D-shaped structure, and the outer cladding is prepared by a core insertion casting method to form an optical fiber preform with D-shaped double-clad fluoride and draw an optical fiber.

An optical fiber with a double-clad fluoride with low loss and high pump absorption efficiency, and its preparation method are provided. The gain optical fiber with the double-clad fluoride includes a fiber core, a D-shaped inner cladding, an outer cladding, and a polymer coating, wherein the fiber core, the inner cladding, and the outer cladding are all fluoride glass materials, and the polymer coating is a fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer. The fiber core and inner cladding structure are prepared by a suction injection method, and the inner cladding is polished into a D-shaped structure, and the outer cladding is prepared by a core insertion casting method to form an optical fiber preform with D-shaped double-clad fluoride and draw an optical fiber.

A liquid repellent composition which can provide an article with good alcohol repellency is provided. A liquid repellent composition comprising a fluorinated polymer and an aqueous medium, wherein the fluorinated polymer comprises units based on a monomer a, units based on a monomer b and units based on a monomer c. Monomer a: a compound represented by CH.sub.2CHR.sup.f (wherein R.sup.f is a C.sub.1-8 perfluoroalkyl group). Monomer b: a fluorine-free nonionic surfactant having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond. Monomer c: another monomer copolymerizable with the monomer a and the monomer b.