Background
Fluoropolymers exhibit a unique combination of properties, including thermal stability, chemical inertness (acid and oxidation resistance), low water and solvent absorptivities, self-extinguishing, excellent weatherability, and very interesting surface properties. They are commonly used in many high-end applications, such as aerospace, automotive, textile finishing, and microelectronics. However, fluoropolymers have some drawbacks (including limited processibility, poor adhesion to substrates, limited crosslinking chemistry, and inertness to chemical modification) which limit their applications when interactive and reactive properties are paramount. Thus, much research has focused on methods of synthesizing fluoropolymers with various functional groups. Free radical polymerization is the most common mechanism employed in the polymerization of functional monomers containing heteroatoms or reactive groups, but there are limitations as to the particular monomer that can be employed in these systems. As such there is a continuing need for convenient methods for the synthesis of fluoropolymers having one or more functional groups.

Invention Description
The present invention is directed to a process for preparing functional fluoropolymers and copolymers with an organoborane. This process can achieve high conversions of the functional fluoromonomer to yield relatively high molecular weight polymers. The resulting functional fluoro-copolymers can be prepared with well-defined molecular structures, i.e. a broad range of desirable functional groups, designed functional group concentration, random molecular structure, and high polymer molecular weight.

File Number: 2835