The invention relates to novel linear, semi-crystalline, functional fluoropolymers that have been obtained by copolymerizing a fluorinated vinylic monomer and a hydrophilic monomer chosen from vinyl alkyl acids, vinyl phosphonates, functional acrylamides, carbonates, vinyl ethers, alkoxy compounds, and double hydrophilic group monomers.

The present invention provides a gel having an interpenetrating network formed from a first network structure and a second network structure, the first network structure being composed of a first crosslinked polymer formed from at least one noncrosslinkable compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (I) and a compound represented by the following formula (II), and at least one crosslinkable compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (III) and a compound represented by the following formula (IV), and the second network structure being composed of a second crosslinked polymer having at least one selected from the group consisting of an acidic dissociative group, an acidic dissociative group in a salt form, and a derivative group of an acidic dissociative group:

##STR00001##

wherein the groups are as defined in the DESCRIPTION.

The present invention provides a gel containing a crosslinked polymer having at least one selected from the group consisting of an acidic dissociative group, an acidic dissociative group in a salt form, and a derivative group of an acidic dissociative group, and a condensate of a compound represented by the following formula (I): Si{R.sup.1N(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)}(OR.sup.4)(OR.sup.5)(R.sup.6) (wherein each group is as defined in the DESCRIPTION).

The present invention provides a gel containing a crosslinked polymer having at least one selected from the group consisting of an acidic dissociative group, an acidic dissociative group in a salt form, and a derivative group of an acidic dissociative group, and a condensate of a compound represented by the following formula (I): Si{R.sup.1N(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)}(OR.sup.4)(OR.sup.5)(R.sup.6) (wherein each group is as defined in the DESCRIPTION).

The invention relates to novel linear, semi-crystalline, functional fluoropolymers that have been obtained by copolymerizing a fluorinated vinylic monomer and a hydrophilic monomer chosen from vinyl alkyl acids, vinyl phosphonates, functional acrylamides, carbonates, vinyl ethers, alkoxy compounds, and double hydrophilic group monomers.

The invention relates to a polymer membrane composition having improved water flux and stable pore size. The water flux is improved by increasing the hydrophilicity of the membrane using a matrix polymer blended with controlled architecture amphiphilic block copolymers. Preferred membranes are those having a fluoropolymer matrix and acrylic amphiphilic block copolymers. The addition of the amphiphilic block copolymers are especially useful in microfiltration and ultra filtration membranes when used in water filtration.

The invention relates to novel linear, semi-crystalline, functional fluoropolymers that have been obtained by copolymerizing a fluorinated vinylic monomer and a hydrophilic monomer chosen from vinyl alkyl acids, vinyl phosphonates, functional acrylamides, carbonates, vinyl ethers, alkoxy compounds, and double hydrophilic group monomers.