An elastomeric fluoropolymer includes the following monomer units: about 45 mol % to about 65 mol % —CF.sub.2—CH.sub.2—; about 8 mol % to about 30 mol % —CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—; about 4.5 mol % to about 25 mol % —CF.sub.2—CF(O—CF.sub.3)—; and about 6 mol % to about 20 mol % —CF.sub.2—CF(O—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—O—(CF.sub.2—O).sub.n—CF.sub.3)—, where n is 1 or 2. In some embodiments, a composition includes an elastomeric fluoropolymer and at least one additive. In some embodiments, a composition includes a first elastomeric fluoropolymer and a second elastomeric fluoropolymer blended with the first elastomeric fluoropolymer. The first elastomeric fluoropolymer includes the following monomer units: about 45 mol % to about 65 mol % —CF.sub.2—CH.sub.2—; about 8 mol % to about 30 mol % —CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—; about 4.5 mol % to about 25 mol % —CF.sub.2—CF(O—CF.sub.3)—; and about 6 mol % to about 20 mol % —CF.sub.2—CF(O—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—O—(CF.sub.2—O).sub.n—CF.sub.3)—, where n is 1 or 2.

A method for producing a fluoropolymer which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer, the surfactant being represented by the general formula (1): CR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.4—CR.sup.3R.sup.5—X-A, wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are each H or a monovalent substituent, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 represents a group represented by the general formula: —Y—R.sup.6 and at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represents a group represented by the general formula: —X-A or a group represented by the general formula: —Y—R.sup.6; and A is the same or different at each occurrence and is —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, or —OSO.sub.3M. Also disclosed is a surfactant for polymerization represented by the general formula (1), a method for producing a fluoropolymer using the surfactant, a composition including a fluoropolymer and the surfactant and a molded body including the composition.

A method for producing a fluoropolymer which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer, the surfactant being represented by the general formula (1): CR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.4—CR.sup.3R.sup.5—X-A, wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are each H or a monovalent substituent, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 represents a group represented by the general formula: —Y—R.sup.6 and at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represents a group represented by the general formula: —X-A or a group represented by the general formula: —Y—R.sup.6; and A is the same or different at each occurrence and is —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, or —OSO.sub.3M. Also disclosed is a surfactant for polymerization represented by the general formula (1), a method for producing a fluoropolymer using the surfactant, a composition including a fluoropolymer and the surfactant and a molded body including the composition.

To provide a method for producing a fluorinated polymer which does not require an emulsifier as an essential component while an aqueous medium with little environmental burden is used. A method for producing a fluorinated polymer, which comprises polymerizing at least one fluorinated polymer selected from tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride, in an aqueous medium in the presence of a specific polymer having at least one type of units selected from units based on a compound represented by the formula (1) and units based on a compound represented by the formula (2) to produce a fluorinated polymer (provided that when tetrafluoroethylene is polymerized, tetrafluoroethylene is polymerized so that the content of units based on tetrafluoroethylene in the fluorinated polymer becomes less than 99 mass % to all units in the fluorinated polymer):

CXY═CR.sup.1—COO-(L-O).sub.n—R.sup.2  formula (1):

CXY═CR.sup.3—(O).sub.m—CH.sub.2—Z—R.sup.4  formula (2):

An ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer satisfying the following formula (1), wherein peak intensities, determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, of vibrations derived from a —CF.sub.2H group, a —CF.sub.2CH.sub.2COF group, a —COF group, a —COOH group, a dimer of a —CF.sub.2COOH group and a monomer of a CF.sub.2CH.sub.2COOH group, a —COOCH.sub.3 group, a —CONH.sub.2 group, and a —CH.sub.2OH group satisfy the following formula (2):
75≤tan δ(60)/tan δ(5)×100≤225  (1)
PI.sub.A/(PI.sub.B+PI.sub.C+PI.sub.D+PI.sub.E+PI.sub.F+PI.sub.G+PI.sub.H)≥0.60  (2) wherein tan δ(60), tan δ(5), PI.sub.A, PI.sub.B, PI.sub.C, PI.sub.D, PI.sub.E, PI.sub.F, PI.sub.G and PI.sub.H are as defined in the specification. Also disclosed is a molded article obtained by molding the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and an electric wire including a core and a coat formed from the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer.

An ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer satisfying the following formula (1), wherein peak intensities, determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, of vibrations derived from a —CF.sub.2H group, a —CF.sub.2CH.sub.2COF group, a —COF group, a —COOH group, a dimer of a —CF.sub.2COOH group and a monomer of a CF.sub.2CH.sub.2COOH group, a —COOCH.sub.3 group, a —CONH.sub.2 group, and a —CH.sub.2OH group satisfy the following formula (2):
75≤tan δ(60)/tan δ(5)×100≤225  (1)
PI.sub.A/(PI.sub.B+PI.sub.C+PI.sub.D+PI.sub.E+PI.sub.F+PI.sub.G+PI.sub.H)≥0.60  (2) wherein tan δ(60), tan δ(5), PI.sub.A, PI.sub.B, PI.sub.C, PI.sub.D, PI.sub.E, PI.sub.F, PI.sub.G and PI.sub.H are as defined in the specification. Also disclosed is a molded article obtained by molding the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and an electric wire including a core and a coat formed from the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer.

An ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer satisfying the following formula (1), wherein peak intensities, determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, of vibrations derived from a —CF.sub.2H group, a —CF.sub.2CH.sub.2COF group, a —COF group, a —COOH group, a dimer of a —CF.sub.2COOH group and a monomer of a CF.sub.2CH.sub.2COOH group, a —COOCH.sub.3 group, a —CONH.sub.2 group, and a —CH.sub.2OH group satisfy the following formula (2):
75≤tan δ(60)/tan δ(5)×100≤225  (1)
PI.sub.A/(PI.sub.B+PI.sub.C+PI.sub.D+PI.sub.E+PI.sub.F+PI.sub.G+PI.sub.H)≥0.60  (2) wherein tan δ(60), tan δ(5), PI.sub.A, PI.sub.B, PI.sub.C, PI.sub.D, PI.sub.E, PI.sub.F, PI.sub.G and PI.sub.H are as defined in the specification. Also disclosed is a molded article obtained by molding the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and an electric wire including a core and a coat formed from the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer.

The present invention relates to an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition, a single-layer film and a multilayer structure containing the same. Said ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition includes an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, an antioxidant, and a fluorine-containing compound; and the ratio of the antioxidant content to the fluorine content is 0.5 to 65. Thereby, the film containing said ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition not only has good heat resistance, but also can avoid the situation that a large number of gels are generated during the preparation process.

The present invention relates to an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition, a single-layer film and a multilayer structure containing the same. Said ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition includes an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, an antioxidant, and a fluorine-containing compound; and the ratio of the antioxidant content to the fluorine content is 0.5 to 65. Thereby, the film containing said ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition not only has good heat resistance, but also can avoid the situation that a large number of gels are generated during the preparation process.

Presently described is a monomer having the formula:

##STR00001##

wherein n ranges from 2 to 8; Y is F or C.sub.mF.sub.2m+1; a is 0, or averages 1 to 2; m is independently 1, 2, 3, or 4; and X is F or OH.

Also described is a method of making such monomer, various compounds prepared during while making the monomer, fluoropolymers comprising polymerized units of such monomer, fuel cell membranes, membrane electrode assemblies, and methods of making fluoropolymers.