A polymer compound for a conductive polymer including one or more repeating units a shown by the following general formula (1), and having a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 500,000, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sup.2 represents any of a single bond, an ester group, and a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally containing either or both of an ether group and an ester group; R.sup.3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms with one or more hydrogen atoms in R.sup.3 being substituted by a fluorine atom(s); Z represents any of a single bond, a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, an ether group, and an ester group; and a is a number satisfying 0<a1.0.

A polymer compound for a conductive polymer including one or more repeating units a shown by the following general formula (1), and having a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 500,000, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sup.2 represents any of a single bond, an ester group, and a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally containing either or both of an ether group and an ester group; R.sup.3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms with one or more hydrogen atoms in R.sup.3 being substituted by a fluorine atom(s); Z represents any of a single bond, a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, an ether group, and an ester group; and a is a number satisfying 0<a1.0.

A method of exchanging or transforming end groups in and/or improving the ferroelectric properties of a PVDF-TrFE co-polymer is disclosed. A bulky or chemically dissimilar end group, such as an iodine, sulfate, aldehyde or carboxylic acid end group, may be transformed to a hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine atom. A method of making a PVDF-TrFE co-polymer is disclosed, including polymerizing a mixture of VDF and TrFE using an initiator, and transforming a bulky or chemically dissimilar end group to a hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine atom. A PVDF-TrFE co-polymer or other fluorinated alkene polymer is also disclosed. The co-polymer may be used as a ferroelectric, electromechanical, piezoelectric or dielectric material in an electronic device.

Anionic surfactants have a formula:
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N(H)CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)OH; or
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N(H)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.xH, where x is an integer from 2-6. R.sub.f is a fluoroalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. Neutral surfactants having a formula:
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)OH].sub.2;(a)
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)OH][(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nH], where n is an integer from 1-6;(b)
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N(R)[(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.pH], where p is an integer from 2-6, and R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; or(c)
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N[(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.qH][(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.mH], where q is an integer from 1-6 and m is an integer from 3-6. R.sub.f is a fluoroalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms.(d)

Anionic surfactants have a formula:
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N(H)CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)OH; or
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N(H)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.xH, where x is an integer from 2-6. R.sub.f is a fluoroalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. Neutral surfactants having a formula:
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)OH].sub.2;(a)
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)OH][(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nH], where n is an integer from 1-6;(b)
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N(R)[(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.pH], where p is an integer from 2-6, and R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; or(c)
R.sub.fSO.sub.2N[(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.qH][(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.mH], where q is an integer from 1-6 and m is an integer from 3-6. R.sub.f is a fluoroalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms.(d)

The present invention is directed to partially fluorinated copolymers and the production thereof. More specifically, the copolymers, which are preferably produced by a solution polymerization process, preferably have at least three units, the first unit selected from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, the second unit having a polymerized monomer selected from the vinyl esters and vinyl ethers, and the third unit having a polymerized monomer derived from a hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether. The resulting copolymer is environmentally friendly, has favorable molecular weight characteristics, and may be shipped economically in high concentration.

The present invention is directed to partially fluorinated copolymers and the production thereof. More specifically, the copolymers, which are preferably produced by a solution polymerization process, preferably have at least three units, the first unit selected from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, the second unit having a polymerized monomer selected from the vinyl esters and vinyl ethers, and the third unit having a polymerized monomer derived from a hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether. The resulting copolymer is environmentally friendly, has favorable molecular weight characteristics, and may be shipped economically in high concentration.

An ultraviolet light-absorbing oligomer that includes a first divalent unit represented by formula (I): and a second divalent unit represented by formula (II): Each R.sup.1 is independently hydrogen or methyl; V is O or NH; X is bond or X is alkylene or alkyleneoxy group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally interrupted by one or more O groups and optionally substituted by a hydroxyl group; and R2 is alkyl having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms. Compositions that include fluoropolymers and the oligomers are disclosed. The composition can be an extruded film. Compositions that include pressure sensitive adhesives and these oligomers are disclosed.

##STR00001##

A process comprising polymerizing at least one fluorinated monomer in an aqueous medium containing initiator and polymerization agent to form an aqueous dispersion of particles of fluoropolymer, the polymerization agent comprising: fluoropolyether acid or salt thereof having a number average molecular weight of at least about 800 g/mol; and fluorosurfactant having the formula:

[R.sup.1O.sub.n-L-A.sup.]Y.sup.+ wherein: R.sup.1 is a linear or branched partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group which may contain ether linkages; n is 0 or 1; L is a linear or branched alkylene group which may be nonfluorinated, partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated and which may contain ether linkages; A.sup. is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfonamide anion, and phosphonate; and Y.sup.+ is hydrogen, ammonium or alkali metal cation; with the proviso that the chain length of R.sup.1O.sub.n-L- is not greater than 6 atoms.

A process comprising polymerizing at least one fluorinated monomer in an aqueous medium containing initiator and polymerization agent to form an aqueous dispersion of particles of fluoropolymer, the polymerization agent comprising: fluoropolyether acid or salt thereof having a number average molecular weight of at least about 800 g/mol; and fluorosurfactant having the formula:

[R.sup.1O.sub.n-L-A.sup.]Y.sup.+ wherein: R.sup.1 is a linear or branched partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group which may contain ether linkages; n is 0 or 1; L is a linear or branched alkylene group which may be nonfluorinated, partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated and which may contain ether linkages; A.sup. is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfonamide anion, and phosphonate; and Y.sup.+ is hydrogen, ammonium or alkali metal cation; with the proviso that the chain length of R.sup.1O.sub.n-L- is not greater than 6 atoms.