Properties of fluoroelastomer/semicrystalline perfluoropolymer nano-blends

Properties of blends of semicrystalline perfluoropolymers in fluoroelastomers strongly depend on the size of the dispersed phase and are at the best when dispersed phase dimension is well below 0.1 μm, i.e. in the nano-scale region. This fine dispersion is obtained with an innovative mixing technology based on microemulsion polymerization. Further increase of properties can be obtained by generating chemical links between fluoroelastomer and semicrystalline fluoropolymer. Nano-blends combine the performing properties of fluoroelastomers with those of semicrystalline perfluoropolymers. For example, these nano-blends have at the same time the sealing and mechanical properties of fluoroelastomers and the exceptional thermal and chemical resistance, low permeability and low friction coefficient of semicrystalline perfluoropolymers. In addition, as dispersed phase size is below visible light wavelength, finished items made with these nano-blends are optically transparent even when they contain as much as 40 wt.% of semicrystalline perfluoropolymer.