Background of the Invention

This invention is in the field of fluoropolymers , and more particularly relates to fluorine containing copolymers and barrier films made therefrom. Monomers such as tetrafluoroethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene have been used to make homopolymers and copolymers.

Typical copolymers based on tetrafluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,624,250; 4,123,602; 3,642,742; 4,513,129; 3,847,881 and P.D. File 82 2155. U.S. Patent No. 4,434,273 discloses perfluorovinyl ethers and copolymers of such materials with tetrafluoroethylene. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,471,076 and 4,500,739 disclose fluorocarbon polymers containing carboxyl groups. U.S. Patent No. 4,513,129 discloses copolymers of ethylene, tetra¬ fluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene and fluorovinyl compounds of the formula H ₂ C=CFR _f where R _f is a fluoroalkyl group of C^-OI _Q* of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,427,825 and the Background of the Invention thereof, as well as related Patent 4,468,427. The above review of the art shows a great variety of fluoropolymers and copolymers. Modena, et al. Vinyl Acetate and Vinyl Alcohol Copolymers with Tetrafluorpr- ethylene, European Polymer Journal, 1967, Vol. 3, pp. 5- 12, Pergamon Press Limited, England (1967) discloses a specific class of copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohols. Copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and vinyl acetate are disclosed in Great Britain Patent 583,482

and U.S. Patent No. 2,468,664. The Great Britain and U.S. patents disclose copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and vinyl acetate but do not disclose polymers of tetrafluoroethylene with vinyl alcohol nor is there a recognition in any of these disclosures of improved barrier resistance to gases such as oxygen.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a luoromonomer having the formula R- _j wherein Ri , R ₂ and Ro are selected from H and F, and wherein when Ri and R ₂ are F, R is selected from H, F and Cl; and a vinyl monomer having the formula H ₂ C=CHR _χ , wherein R _χ is a radical having the formula 0 ₂ CR _y , wherein R _y is a radical selected from CHo and C ₂ Hc;.

The resulting copolymer comprises fluorinated units having the formula - R _} R ₂ C--CRgF}- wherein R- , R ₂ and R^ are selected from H, F, and Cl and corresponding amounts of vinyl-units having the formula - H ₂ C<-CHR _χ -, wherein R _χ is a radical having the formula 0 CR _y , wherein R _y is selected from -CHo and -C ₂ HCJ. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the copolymer is hydrolyzed so that R _χ becomes -OH.

The copolymer can contain from 40 to 60, preferably 45 to 55 mole percent of the fluorinated units and a corresponding amount of the vinyl units. The copolymer can contain up to 10 percent of at least one additional co onomer.

When R _χ is OH and R is selected from H and F, the copolymer of the present invention is a crystalline polymer. The copolymer has a single melting point peak when measured using a DuPont 990 Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The procedure is to heat a 7 to 10mg sample at 20°C/minute from room temperature to 300°C. This is followed by a quick quench in liquid nitrogen and reheating to determine reproductibilit .

The fluorinated and vinyl units are substantially uniformly and homogeneously distributed along the

* copolymer chain. This results in the single DSC melting point peak for the hydrolyzed polymer. It is a crystalline polymer with substantially few and preferably no blocks in which either the fluorinated units or vinyl units predominate. This is particularly important for improved barrier properties of film made from the polymer. The major monomer units are preferably, substantially alternating in distribution when there is the preferred amount of from 45 to 55 mole percent of the fluoromonomer and the vinyl monomer.

The copolymer of the present invention is useful to make articles such as fiber, molded bottles and films having at least one layer made from the copolymer of the present invention. The present invention also includes a method of making the copolymer of the present invention which comprises the steps of copolymerizing monomers having the formulas R ₁ R ₂ C=CRoF and H ₂ C=CHR _χ as where R ₁ , R ₂ , Ro, and R _χ are defined above. A particularly useful and preferred method to make the copolymer of the present invention is in an aqueous media as disclosed in copending U.S. Serial No 123,480, (Attorney Docket No. 82-2637), hereby incorporated by reference.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Figures 1 and 2 are Differential Scanning Calorimetry graphs of heat flow (W/g) vs. T (°C) for polymers of the present invention and comparative polymers.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention is a copolymer of a fluoromonomer having the formula R- _] wherein R- _j ,

R ₂ and Ro are selected from H and F, and wherein when R- _] and R ₂ are F, Ro is selected from H, F and Cl; and a vinyl monomer having the formula wherein R _χ is a radical having the formula 0 ₂ CR _y , and wherein R _y is a radical selected from CHo and C2H5.

-Λ-

The resulting copolymer comprises fluorinated units having the formula R- _j R^^CR^F - wherein R ₁ , R ₂ and R3 are selected from H and F, and corresponding amounts of vinyl units having the formula -fH ₂ C--*CHR _χ -)-, wherein R _y is selected from -CHo and -^H^. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the copolymer is hydrolyzed so that R _χ becomes -OH.

The preferred copolymer of the present invention is one where R- _j and Ro are selected from the group consisting of H and F and are preferably F; R is F; and R _χ is OH. This embodiment of the copolymer is particularly preferred due to its crystalline properties, and permeation resistance to moisture (H ₂ 0) and oxygen gas (0 ₂ ) . It is preferred to hydrolyze as many of the ester groups as possible however, minor amounts of residual ester groups may be present. The most preferred polymer is a hydrolyzed copolymer derived from tetrafluoroethylene and vinyl acetate. This is called a copolymer of tetrafl'uroethylene and vinyl alcohol.

The preferred copolymers of the present invention include but are not limited to copolymers of fluoro onomers selected from vinyl flouride, trifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride, and vinyl acetate as the vinyl monomer.

The copolymer of the present invention has from 40 to 60, and most preferably 45 to 55 mole percent of the fluorinated units, and a corresponding amount of the vinyl units. The polymer can contain minor amounts of up to 10 mole percent of at least a third comonomer. The presence of additional comonomer is not ob ectionable so long as it does not deteriorate the desired properties of the polymer and in particular does not adversely affect distribution of the two major monomeric units along the copolymer chain, or inhibit the crystallite formation in the hydrolyzed embodiment.

The copolymer of the present invention has a

substantially uniform and homogeneous distribution of the two major monomer units along the polymer backbone. In the most preferred embodiment where there are from 45 to 55 mole percent fluorinated units and corresponding amounts of vinyl units, the two units are preferably substantially alternating in their distribution. The procedure for determining degree of

-] alternation is by H Fourier Transform Nuclear Magnetic

Resonance Spectroscopy. The procedure is reviewed in detail below. For the purpose of the present invention substantially alternating is at least 40? alternating as measured by this procedure. Typically alternating values are from 40 to 80?. It is believed that there are amounts of end groups, and short segments such as segments having dimer and trimer length which are not measured as alternating but are not considered blocks which significantly alter the properties of a copolymer of the present invention.

The copolymer of the present invention wherein the vinyl unit is a vinyl alcohol, is an advancement due to the structural relationship of the two major monomeric units and the resulting crystallinety of the copolymer. The polymer has a single melting point peak when measured using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) (Figure 1). The DSC used to characterize the present invention is a DuPont 9900 thermal analyzer. The precedure is to use a 7 to 10 mg sample of the copolymer heated at 20°C minute from room temperature to 300°C. The samples were quick quenched in liquid nitrogen and reheated to determine reproducibilit . The hydrolyzed, crystalline copolymer of the present invention is an improvement over copolymers having tetrafluoroethylene units and vinyl units known in the art which are bimodal. The art discloses copolymers that have been inherently block copolymerized resulting in tetrafluoroethylene unit rich blocks and vinyl unit rich blocks. DSC testing of prior art hydrolyzed broad copolymers, results in two broad

peaks. There is a broad melting point peak from the tetrafluoroethylene unit rich blocks and a separate broad melting point peak from the second monomer, i.e., the vinyl alcohol, rich blocks (Figure 2). The copolymer of the present invention has no mutually immiscible phases of either the fluorinated units or the vinyl units to result in separate peaks when measuring the DSC of the .copolymer according ^" to the process recited above; or whi-ch are apparent when a sample of the composition is viewed under a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) at a magnification of 15,000 to 25,000.

The molecular weight of the copolymer of the present invention can be varied as desired. The intrinsic viscosity of the copolymers of the present invention measured at 35°C in dimethylformamide (DMF) according to the ASTM D-1238 procedure is from 0.1 to 2.5 preferably from 0.2 to 1.5, more preferably from 0.3 to 1.0 and most preferably 0.5 to 0.9. The polymer of the present invention can be made in an aqueous medium or in a suitable solvent. A useful and preferred method is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 123,480 filed November 20, 1987 (Attorney Docket No. 82*2637). The preferred method as recited in the referenced application is copolymerizing a vinyl monomer of the formula H ₂ C = CHR _χ , where R _χ is the radical 0 ₂ CR _y , where R _y is a radical selected from CHo and C^H^ ; and fluoromonomer of the formula: R- _] R ₂ C = CFRo wherein R. _| , R ₂ and Ro are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, and F, and where Ro is selected from Cl and F, .when R- _] and R ₂ are F. The aqueous medium comprises from 50 to 99, preferably 55 to 90, and more preferably 60 to 85 percent by weight of water and a corresponding amount of a water miscible cosolvent. The cosolvent should be water soluble and have low chain transfer properties. The fluoromonomer should have greater solubility in the aqueous medium as

a result of the cosolvent. The vinyl monomer is soluble in the aqueous medium. The amount of vinyl monomer is limited to that amount which is soluble in the aqueous solution. The copolymerization is preferably conducted in the presence of a water soluble initiator and may optionally contain a water soluble fluorosurfactant which preferably has groups selected from alkali metal sulfonates, alkali metal corboxylates, ammonium carboxylates, and ammonium sulfates. The copolymerization is initiated in the homogeneous aqueous solution. Copolymer particles form. The cosolvent preferably causes the copolymer particles to swell. The monomers including the fluoromonomer are carried into the swollen particles with the cosolvent. Resulting in homogeneous and preferably alternating copolymer.

The aqueous medium is fed to a reactor with a vinyl monomer, and optionally the surfactant. The fluoromonomer is fed to the reactor and maintained at a constant pressure throughout the course of polymerization with some dissolved in the aqueous solution. The temperature is controlled and the initiator is injected. The preferred initiator is an oxidation-reduction system. Polymerization is initiated in the homogeneous mixture of comonomers. The polymerization results in the suspension of polymer particles which are swollen by the cosolvent. The comonomers diffuse into the particles of the growing polymers chains. Vinyl monomer is fed concurrently in rates equivalent to consumed fluoromonomer so as to maintain the desired copolymer composition.

Another useful method to make the copolymers of the present invention comprises the step of copolymerizing R- _] R ₂ C=CRoF and H ₂ C=CHR _χ in a chlorofluorocarbon solvent at a temperature range of above the freezing point of the solvent, preferably from -20°C to 100°C, preferably from 0°C to 50°C, and most preferably from 20°C to 40°C in the presence of a polymerization initiator. The pressure is provided by the fluoromonomer and an inert

gas such as nitrogen as well as the vapor pressure of the solvent. The pressure is typically from 1 atm to about 30 atm, preferably from 1 atm to 25 atm. The amount of polymer formed can be determined by measuring the amount of monomers consumed. The process can be batch or continuous.

Saturated fluoro or chlorofluorocarbon, solvents preferably having 1 to 4 especially 1 to 2 carbon atoms, are preferred as the non aqueous copolymerization • reaction medium. Suitable solvents include solvents in which both the fluoromonomer and vinyl monomer are soluble and include: dichlorodifluoromethane, trichloromonofluoromethane, chlorotrifluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, hexafluoroethane, perfluoropropane, perfluorocyclobutane, etc. and mixtures thereof. It is preferred to use a saturated fluoro or chlorofluoro*- carbon which does not have a C^H bond in the molecule.

Useful solvents, also include those having low chain transfer properties. Such solvents include acetic acid, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, t-butyl alcohol, acetonitrite and the like. The amount of solvent used is not limited.

The copolymerization reaction can be carried out by using a suitable amount of solvent. Useful amounts have been found to be from about 10 to 100 ml of solvent to each gram of polymer produces.

The reaction temperature can be determined depending upon the type and amount of solvent, the molar ratio of the monomers, the type of polymerization initiator, whether there is external cooling, and the like.

As indicated above, a wide variety of polymeriza¬ tion initiators can be used depending upon the polymer ization system. Organic peroxy compounds or azo compounds are preferred.

Suitable peroxy compounds such as free radical initiators can be the perfluoroperoxides such as

bis(perfluorobutyryl) peroxide, bis(perfluorooctanoyl)peroxide, or aza compounds, such as azabisisobutyronitrile.

The quantity of initiator is not critical. However, it is necessary to use a sufficient amount to effectively carry out the copolymerization reaction. For example when using ammonium persulfate results are attainable when the initiator is used in amounts of more than about 0.0001 part, preferably 0.001 parts to 1.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of total monomers.

The concentration of the free radical initiator in the chlorofluorocarbon type solvent is typically more than 0.001, and preferably 0.001 to 0.5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of total monomers initially charged.

When a chlorofluorocarbon type solvent is used, the solvent can be easily separated together with the unreacted monomers from the resulting copolymers after the copolymerization.

Copolymers having a vinyl unit where R _χ is 0 ₂ CR _y , can be hydrolyzed to vinyl alcohol by suitable means. A preferred method is by contacting the ester copolymer, in solution, with a strong base such a sodium hyroxide. A useful solvent is an alcohol such a methanol. The typical hydrolysis can be conducted at from ^10°C to 100°C, depending on the boiling point of ^■ the solvent. Depending on temperature the reaction can be conducted at from 30 minutes to 24 hours. It is convenient to hydrolyze the copolymer at atmospheric pressure.

The hydrolyzed copolymer of the present invention is useful for making a variety of articles. In particular, it has been found to have exceptional resistance to permeation by gases such as oxygen. It is therefore useful to make articles having one or more layers of this polymer where oxygen permeation or improved oxygen barrier is critical such as in films and

bottles. It also has improved resistance to water vapor transmission. This is believed to be a result of the tightly packed crystalline structure of the hydrolyzed copolymer. Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers are known to have excellent resistance to oxygen permeation at low humidities. As the relative humidity increases to from 70 to 100 percent, the oxygen permeability increases. However, when using the copolymer of the present invention, the oxygen permeability remains relatively constant even at high humidy conditions of from 70 to 100 percent relative humidity.

Films can be made by conventional film forming processes including casting and extruding. The film can be used alone or in combination with other layers as a laminate formed by coextrusion or by building up separate layers of film. The use of adhesive layers is optional and depends on the composition of the adjacent film layers. A particularly convenient method of production of film laminates is the simultaneous coextrusion of several resins as a laminate extrudate. Such coextrusion methods are well known in the art.

The film and film laminates made by the present invention may be oriented by conventional means and/or embossed as desired.

In addition to making films, and film laminates the polymer of the present invention can be formed by other forming processes including blow molding to form bottles as well as molded parts and formable sheets. The copolymer can be compounded with conventional additives known in the art. Such additives include fillers, other polymeric materials such as impact modifiers, and inhibitors of oxi ative, thermal, and ultraviolet light degradation, lubricants and mold release agents, colorants including dyes and pigments, fibers and particulate filler and reinforcements, plasticizers, etc.

Compositions containing the polymer of the present invention can be prepared by melt blending in a closed system such as an extruder, or other conventional plasticating devices. Compositions of the present invention can be blow molded. Alternately, the polymer can be processed by precipitation from solution, blending or by dry mixing with other components followed by melt fabrication of the dry mixture by extrusion or molding. In addition to the articles mentioned above, the polymer can be used in a variety of articles made by conventional fabrication methods to form tubing, sheet, fibers and oriented fibers, and wire coating.

Several examples are- set forth below to illustrate the nature of the invention and the manner of carrying it out. However the invention should not be considered as being limited to the detail thereof. All parts are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Examples 1 * 5

The following examples illustrate the preparation of a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and vinyl acetate. The polymerization was conducted using fluorocarbon G-113 (1 , 1 ,

1 ,2,2,trifluoroethane) as a solvent. The initiator used was bis(per luorobutyryl) peroxide (4-p). The reaction was conducted in a 500 ml or 4 liter closed reactor. The reactants were stirred at a stir rate of 200 rpm. The atmosphere above the solvent was a mixture of nitrogen and TFE held at a constant pressure. The' copolymer was collected as a gelatinous mass and dried to a white solid. The processing conditions are summarized in Table 1. The composition in each case was determined by elemental analysis. The percents by

weight of C, H, and F are summarized below. The intrinsic viscosity Cn] was measured at 35°C in dimethyl foramide (DMF) .

Example 6 illustrates the hydrolysis of a tetrafluoroethylene, vinyl acetate copolymer made from Example 2. 10.4 grams of the copolymer was stirred in 150 ml of methanol chilled to 5°C. A solution of 10.4 ml of a 50 percent aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added dropwise controlling the rate to maintain the temperature at 10°C. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. The hydrolyzed copolymer was recovered by pouring the solution into one liter of ice water in a Waring Blender. The copolymer was filtered from the solution and was dried at room temperature, 1 mm Hg pressure for 18 hours. The copolymer was a white solid, and the yield was 7.5 grams. DSC indicates a melting point of 222°C. The thermal gravimetric analysis (T.GA) indicates a 5 percent weight loss by 370°C with a

major decomposition taking place over 400°C.

The hydrolyzed tetrafluoroethylene-vinyl acetate (now tetrafluoroethylene/vinyl alcohol) copolymer was dissolved in 200 ml of acetone at room temperature for 3 hours. It was then filtered through a coarse (40-60) frit, then a 7.0 micron filters. The polymer was again recovered by pouring into one liter of ice water in a Waring Blender and filtering. It was pressed free of excess water and dried at room temperature at a pressure of 1 mm Hg. The yield was 5.9 grams. The intrinsic viscosity was 2.17 in acetone. The intinsic viscosity was 2.01 (10.4 insolubles) at 30°C, using DMF. The ratio of vinyl alcohol/TFE was 1 :1. The percent carbon was 31.0; percent hydrogen 3.3 and percent florine 49.1. The sample was formed into a film and tested for oxygen permeability using an 0x«Tron 1000 oxygen permeability tester made by Mocon Corp. The oxygen permeability was at 0% relative humidity (RH) was 0.154 cc/100 sq in/mil/day. At 100? relative humidity the oxygen permeability was 0.70/cc/100 sq in/mil/day.

Example 7 Following is a procedure for the hyrolysis of a vinyl acetate/tetrafluoroethylene (VAC/TFE) copolymer to vinyl alcohol/tetrafluoroethylene (V0H/TFE). 8.1 grams of the VAC/TFE made in Example 3 and 11.5 grams of the VAC/TFE made in Example 4 (totaling 19.6 grams, or 105 millimoles) was stirred in a 3 neck 100 ml round bottom flask containing a stir bar and a thermometer as well as a water condenser and an nitrogen inlet. The flask contained 390 ml of methanol, 8.4 ml of 50 percent aqueous sodium hydroxide plus 18 ml of water. The mixture was heated and refluxed at 67°C for 2 hours. A yellow solution formed with small amount of undissolved material. 12 ml of concentrated HC1 (pH 1 ) were added. The solution became milky white and the yellow color was gone. The polymer was precipitated out by adding 100 ml of the polymer solution to 300 ml of water plus 100 ml of ice in a Waring Blender. The solids were collected in five batches. The combined solids were washed three times in 350 ml of water with 100 ml of ice and then dried in a vacuum oven at 80°C overnight at about 12 ml of mercury. 13-6 grams of off-white solids were obtained and redissolved in acetone at room temperature. The solids were

filtered and then precipitated out using an 800 ml polymer solution in 400 ml of chilled water which had been passed through a milli pore filter. The solids were once again washed three times with 500 ml of chilled, filtered water. The solids were dried in a vacuum oven for almost 20 hours at 81 °C. 11.8 grams of a light cream colored free flowing solid was recovered. This material was found to have 33.31 percent C, 2.81 percent H, and 52.66 percent F. The sample was formed into a film and tested for oxygen permeability using an Ox^Tran 1000 oxygen permeability tester made by Mocon Corp. At 0 percent relative humidity a 3.2 mil thick film had from 0.0 to 0.059 cc per 100 sq. in. per day which corresponds to 0.00 to 0.18 cc per 100 sq in per mil per day. The sample was tested at 100 percent relative humidity and had 0.0 to 0.1194 cc per 100 sq in per day and 0.00 to 0.38 cc per 100 sq in per mil per day.

Example 8 Example 8 is laboratory example of hydrolyzing the vinyl acetate/TFE copolymer made in Example 5. The vinyl acetate/TFE copolymer was hydrolyzed with a 50 percent aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at a concentration of 0.0125 g per ml in methanol and water in presence of heat. The procedure was similar to that of Example 7 except a 2 liter flask was used. The flask was charged with 85.3 g of the vinyl acetate/TFE copolymer, 853 ml of methanol, 17.1 ml of water and 37.7 ml of aqueous 50 percent sodium hydroxide. It was heated to reflux and held for 2.5 hours. The result was a fairly clear amber very viscous solution having a pH

•Φ of about 11. About 25 g of Celite filter aid sold by Aldrich was added and it was filtered. It was acidified with a total of 87 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid to a pH of about 1. After filtering, the solids were collected and dried at about 44°c overnight at a pressure of 1 mm Hg. About 58.8 g of cream colored solvent were recovered. The viscosity at 35°C in DMF was measured to be 1.54. The TGA of the sample showed about a 1 percent weight loss between room temperature and 100°C. This followed by a stable plateau up to 325°C. The main degradation occurred above that point. DSC was measured on an 8.4 mg sample and indicated a single melting point of about 210°C. Upon reheating, after quenching from

300°C the main melt point appears at 208°C. This is shown on Figure 2 which is a plot of watts/grams (W/g) vs. ^' T(°C).

The following table summarizes test results made using the copolymer produced in Example 5 and the hydrolyzed coplymer made in Example 8. Molecular weight was measured by low angle laser light scattering using a Chromatic KM _χ -6 instrument using solutions of 0.1 to 0.8 ? by wt. concentration of copolymer in pyridine at room temperature. Tensile testing was conducted at 23°C, 50 percent relative humidity using ASTM D--638. Samples were molded using a hydraulic platen press at 500°F in a two piece 5 inch closed mold. Type C tensile samples and DMA specimens were molded. The DMA was determined on a Polymer Laboratories DMTA in an inert atmosphere in the temperature range of -120°C to 175°C at a heating rate of 30°C/minute. The frequency was 1 hertz and the sample size was 1.9 x 9.5 x 5 mm. There were two peaks one at 81 °C and the other at 134°C. The first peak is believed to be the result of the glass transition temperature of the amourphous phase and the second peak at 134°C is believed to result from the motion of segments in the interfacial regions between the amourphous and crystalline phases. Tensile results are summarized in Table 2 below.

Table 2

Example 9 Example 9 illustrates the preparation of a copolymer of vinyl acetate and TFE using 750 ml of ethyl acetate as a solvent in a 4 liter stirred reactor. The initiator used was 250 mg 5 azabis(isobutyrylnitrile) (ABN). Twenty five grams of vinyl acetate was added to the ethyl acetate and ABN under about 75 psi of nitrogen at the conditions summerized on Table 3 below. This was followed by the addition of 150 psi of TFE. The reactants were stirred at 200 rpm. 0

Table 3

Time P Temp Comment

(min) (psi) (°C)

0.0 67.5 23 Solvent, vinyl acetate, ABN,N ₂

0;0 205.0 23 TFE to maintain P=205 psi heater set for 53°C ⁵ 8.0 206.4 41

12.0 228; 1 58 P set for TFE to maintain 225 psi

14.-0 232:7 60

16;0 234: 1 61

18:0 234.-4 60

20;0 233:5 59

24:0 231 :3 58 heater set for 60°C 0 45:0 232:5 60

60:0 230:4 60 reacter cooled and vented

The reacted solution was evaporated with a rotary evaporator. The residue was dissolved in acetone (100 ml) , precipitated in 1 liter of water and dried at ^ 65°C. The yield was 22.8g having an intrinsic viscosity at 35°C in DMF of 0.23 (0? insolubles). Elemental analysis indicated 38.90 wt ? C, 3.09 wt ? H, and 38.9 wt ? F. The ratio of vinyl acetate to TFE was about 1 :1. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (Proton NMR) ⁰ indicated that the vinyl acetate and TFE were 62? alternating. The procedure used is as follows:

Vinyl acetate/tetrafluoroethylene copolymers (VAC/TFE) can be analyzed by ¹ H Fourier Transform Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for the presence ⁵ of alternating VAC/TFE units and VAC blocks. The samples are dissolved in acetone-dg and analyzed by a Varian XL?-200 NMR spectrometer operating at 200 MHz. The methine hydrogens of the vinyl acetate group give

resonances at 4.9, 5.3, 5.6 and 6.0 ppm. The 6.0 ppm resonance is assigned to the methine proton of alternating vinyl acetate units (flanked by TFE units on either side). The 5.3 and 5.6 ppm resonances can be assigned to methine protons of the end VAc units of vinyl acetate blocks where the resonance at 5.6 ppm is adjacent to a TFE unit and the 5.3 ppm resonance is separated from a TFE unit by a methylene group. The resonance at 4.9 ppm is at the same frequency as the methine protons of polyvinyl acetate and represents the methine protons of vinyl acetate units in VAc blocks that are not directly adjacent to TFE units. The ratio of the integrated area of the 6.1 ppm peak to the total integrated area of the four peaks between 4.7 and 6.3 PPm gives the fraction of alternating vinyl acetate in the polymer. There is insufficient information in the proton spectrum to determine the length of the vinyl acetate blocks.

Example 10

Example 10 illustrates the preparation of a copolymer of vinyl acetate and TFE using 750 ml of acetic acid as a solvent in a 4 liter stirred reactor. The initiator used was 250 mg of ABN. Twenty five grams of vinyl acetate was added to the acetic acid and ABN under about 75 psi of N2 at the conditions summarized in Table below. This was followed by the addition of 150 psi of TFE. The reactants were stirred at 200 rpm.

The reactants were obtained by evaporation and precipitation similar to Example 9. The yield was 29.8g having an intrinsic viscosity at 35°C in DMF of 0.38 (0? insolubles). Elemental analysis indicated 40.69 wt ? C; 2.88 wt % H; and 36.24 wt ? F. The mole ratio of vinyl acetate to TFE was 1.25 to 1.

Comparative Example 1 This Comparative Example illustrates a vinyl acetate/TFE copolymer of the type known in the art and the hydrolysis product of this product to a vinyl alcohol/TFE copolymer. This copolymer has a different structure than the copolymer of the present invention. This is believed to be due to the polymerization process of the vinyl acetate/TFE . The copolymer of this

Comparative was prepared by adding 800 ml of water, 200 ml of acetic acid; 75 psi N ₂ ; 15 grams of vinyl acetate. The pressure of 150 psi was maintained and 15

g/hr of vinyl acetate added.

The mixture was heated to 6θ°C. Then 150 psi TFE and APS were added. The reactants were stirred at 1500 rpm. The conditions are summarized in Table 5 below.

Table 5

RX Time P Temp Comment (Min) (psi) (°C)

0.0 67.2 22 H ₂ 0, acetic acid,

0.0 5.O 7.0 8. ^" θ 9.0 39.0 reactor cooled and vented

The solid residue was filtered, washed with water and dried at 65°C. The yield was 37.9 grams. The intrinsic viscosity at 35°C in DMF was 0.60 (5? insolubles). Elemented analysis indicated 36.72 wt? C; 2.61 wt? H; and 46.51 wt? F. The mole ratio of vinyl acetate to TFE was 1:1.3.

The copolymer was hydrolyzed in a 500 ml flask. 30.8g,(0.1426 moles) was added to 308 ml of methyl alcohol, 50? aqueous NaOH (5.7g, 14.41 ml, 0.1426 mole) and 6 ml of water under a N ₂ atmosphere. The mixture was refluxed for 1 hour at 67°C and then filtered. 5 ml of concentrated HCl were added to obtain a pH of 6H7. The mixture was precipitated, and dried at 85°C to recover I4.9g or a yellow polymer. TGA indicated the main degradation temperature was over 400°C. The DSC was measured and showed melting point peaks at 202°C and

222°C and after quick quenching in liquid nitrogen and reheating, the double peak was still present at 198°C and 220°c. (Fig. ) The intrinsic viscosity was 0.55 at 35°C in DMF.

While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described, the true scope of the invention Is to be determined from the following claims: