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 C. lower than 1% as determined by thermogravimetric analysis.

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 C. lower than 1% as determined by thermogravimetric analysis.

A composition comprising at least one first divalent unit represented by formula: ##STR00001##
and at least one of a second divalent unit comprising a pendant Z group or a monovalent unit comprising a thioether linkage and a terminal Z group, wherein each Z group is independently selected from the group consisting of P(O)(OY).sub.2 and OP(O)(OY).sub.2. R and R are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, trialkylsilyl, and a counter cation. Methods of treating a surface using these compositions and articles with a surface in contact with these compositions are provided. Methods of making these compositions are also provided.

Process for polymerizing fluoromonomer to form an aqueous dispersion of fluoropolymer particles including: (a) providing an aqueous medium in a polymerization reactor, (b) adding nucleating additive comprising polyalkylene oxide having a number average molecular weight of about 50 to about 2000 to the aqueous medium in an amount of about 0.1 ppm to about 50 ppm based on water in the aqueous medium, (c) exposing the nucleating additive to oxidizing agent to form a dispersion of oleophilic nucleation sites in the aqueous medium; (d) pressurizing the reactor by adding fluoromonomer, and (e) adding polymerization initiator to the aqueous medium to cause the polymerizing of the fluoromonomer to form fluoropolymer particles dispersed in the aqueous medium.

Process for polymerizing fluoromonomer to form an aqueous dispersion of fluoropolymer particles including: (a) providing an aqueous medium in a polymerization reactor, (b) adding nucleating additive comprising polyalkylene oxide having a number average molecular weight of about 50 to about 2000 to the aqueous medium in an amount of about 0.1 ppm to about 50 ppm based on water in the aqueous medium, (c) exposing the nucleating additive to oxidizing agent to form a dispersion of oleophilic nucleation sites in the aqueous medium; (d) pressurizing the reactor by adding fluoromonomer, and (e) adding polymerization initiator to the aqueous medium to cause the polymerizing of the fluoromonomer to form fluoropolymer particles dispersed in the aqueous medium.

A resist composition includes (A1) a resin which includes a structural unit represented by formula (a4), a structural unit having a cyclic ether, and the resin has no acid-labile group, (A2) a resin having an acid-labile group, and an acid generator: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R.sup.4 represents a C.sub.1 to C.sub.24 saturated hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom and a methylene group contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group.

The present invention provides a polymer compound for a conductive polymer, containing one or more repeating units (a) represented by the following general formula (1), the polymer compound for a conductive polymer being synthesized by ion-exchange of a lithium salt, a sodium salt, a potassium salt, or a nitrogen compound salt of a sulfonic acid residue, and having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 500,000. ##STR00001## There can be provided a polymer compound for a conductive polymer having a specific superacidic sulfo group which is soluble in an organic solvent, and suitably used for a fuel cell or a dopant for a conductive material.

The present invention provides a polymer compound for a conductive polymer, containing one or more repeating units (a) represented by the following general formula (1), the polymer compound for a conductive polymer being synthesized by ion-exchange of a lithium salt, a sodium salt, a potassium salt, or a nitrogen compound salt of a sulfonic acid residue, and having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 500,000. ##STR00001## There can be provided a polymer compound for a conductive polymer having a specific superacidic sulfo group which is soluble in an organic solvent, and suitably used for a fuel cell or a dopant for a conductive material.

A polymeric membrane for separating oil from water has a pore size of 0.005 m to 5 m, a thickness of 50 m to 1,000 m, a water contact angle of 0 to 60, an oil contact angle of 40 to 100. The membrane contains a hydrophobic matrix polymer and a functional polymer that contains a hydrophobic backbone and side chains. The side chains each have an oleophobic terminal segment and a hydrophilic internal segment. The weight ratio of the matrix polymer to the functional polymer is 99:1 to 1:9. Also disclosed is a method of making the above described membrane.

A method for recovering a hydrofluorocarbon, including: producing a wet fluoropolymer by suspension polymerization, solution polymerization, or bulk polymerization in the presence of a hydrofluorocarbon; vaporizing and discharging vaporizable substances including the hydrofluorocarbon by heating the wet fluoropolymer in a container; and transferring the discharged vaporizable substances to a cooling means to cool the substances.