EP0256024A1 - The pyrolysis of perfluoropolyethers - Google Patents
The pyrolysis of perfluoropolyethersInfo
- Publication number
- EP0256024A1 EP0256024A1 EP86907094A EP86907094A EP0256024A1 EP 0256024 A1 EP0256024 A1 EP 0256024A1 EP 86907094 A EP86907094 A EP 86907094A EP 86907094 A EP86907094 A EP 86907094A EP 0256024 A1 EP0256024 A1 EP 0256024A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- perfluoropolyether
- molecular weight
- perfluoropolyethers
- lower molecular
- pyrolysis
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C08G65/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of the macromolecule
- C08G65/002—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of the macromolecule from unsaturated compounds
- C08G65/005—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of the macromolecule from unsaturated compounds containing halogens
- C08G65/007—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of the macromolecule from unsaturated compounds containing halogens containing fluorine
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C08G65/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of the macromolecule
- C08G65/02—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of the macromolecule from cyclic ethers by opening of the heterocyclic ring
- C08G65/32—Polymers modified by chemical after-treatment
Definitions
- This invention is in the fields of polymer and fluorine chemistry.
- This synthetic procedure involves a three-step scheme for production of the polymer involving oxidation of perfluoroolefins to perfluoroepoxides, followed by anionic polymerization to acyl fluoride terminated perfluoropolyethers and then replacement of the acyl fluoride end groups with perfluoroalkyl groups by decarboxylation reactions or by chain coupling photolytic decarboxylation reactions.
- An alternate synthetic method for the production of perfluoropolyethers involves the ultraviolet photolysis of tetrafluoroethylene and/or hexafluoropropylene in an inert solvent in the presence of oxygen, D. Sianesi and R. Fontanelli, British Patent 1,226,566.
- the multistep process yields an acyl fluoride terminated polymer which contains unstable peroxidic linkages in addition to difluoromethylene oxide and tetrafluorethylene oxide (or hexafluoropropylene oxide) repeating units.
- Treatment of the polymer at elevated temperatures and with fluorine gas gives a stable polymer containing only perfluoroalkyl end groups.
- the product can be separated into various fractions based on vapor pressure. There exists a need for a convenient means to alter the molecular weight of a perfluoropolyether polymer.
- This invention pertains to a method of cleaving perfluoropolyethers to give lower molecular weight polymers.
- the method comprises pyrolysis of a perfluoropolyether, condensation and collection of vaporized lower molecular weight fragments of the perfluoropolyether.
- the pyrolysis is carried out in an apparatus which separates the high molecular weight polymer from the desired lower molecular weight fraction on the basis of vapor pressure (e.g. a distillation apparatus).
- the perfluoropolyether to be pyrolyzed is placed into a crucible or other vessel (pyrolysis vessel) which is located in a heating zone of the apparatus.
- the apparatus has means for introduction of and exit of a gas and an inert gas is passed over the polymer throughout the procedure.
- the polymer is heated to pyrolysis temperature, about 350-600°C, preferably 500-600°C, by raising the temperature in the heating zone and the polymer is maintained at that temperature to allow low molecular weight fragments to vaporize and distill out of the pyrolysis vessel.
- the low molecular weight products are collected upon condensation generally in a collection vessel attached to the condensing zone of the distillation apparatus.
- the pyrolysis can be carried out using a pure perfluoropolyether, generally in solid form.
- Additives such as select metal oxides can be added to the perfluoropolyether in order to catalytically reduce the temperature required for pyrolysis.
- Carbon-carbon cross-links present in the polymer to be pyrolyzed may be eliminated by adding NaOH or KOH prior to pyrolysis. These agents break the cross-links preferentially at the temperatures used (about 500-600°C).
- the pyrolysis may be done in the presence of fluorine gas so that when the polymers are cleaved, the radicals resulting from bond breakage are capped with fluorine.
- the recovered lower molecular weight fractions may be treated with elemental fluorine after pyrolysis to ensure saturation and terminal group capping with fluorine.
- the pyrolysis procedure of this invention can be carried out in a variety of apparati.
- a simple design is shown schematically in the Figure. It consists of a nickel tube with one removable flange (A) sealed to the reactor using an O-ring (Teflon TM
- a nickel crucible (B) which is used to hold the perfluoropolyether which is to be pyrolyzed.
- a furnace (C) is placed around the nickel tube in the vicinity of the lower one-half of the crucible.
- a gas diluent enters through the top inlet (D) and exits along with the pyrolyzed fluid through (E).
- a collection vessel is attached to the bottom of the vessel to collect and hold the fluid. If fluorine is used as the pyrolysis gas, a fluorine scrubber is attached downstream from the collection vessel.
- the perfluoropolyether is placed in the nickel crucible.
- the temperature at the bottom of the crucible is raised to about 350-600°C, preferably 500-600°C and held at that temperature (the temperature at the top of the crucible can be variable depending on the location of the heater).
- the polymer is refluxed until a sufficient number of bonds are broken to allow the lower molecular weight fragments to distill out of the pyroylsis vessel.
- a stream of inert gas e.g. nitrogen sweeps the fragment vapors from the reactor into the collection vessel.
- Fluorine gas or a fluorine gas/inert gas mixture can be used in place of the inert gas as described in detail below. Many other reactor designs can be used successfully.
- a suitable apparatus comprises: i) a sample vessel (pyrolysis vessel) located in a heating zone; ii) a condensing zone; iii) a collection vessel connected by passageway to the condensing zone; and iv) means for introduction of a gas.
- the pyrolysis procedure of this invention is applicable for all saturated perfluoropolyethers. This technique can be employed to crack perfluoropolyethers of any molecular weight including high molecular weight solids and low molecular weight low viscosity fluids.
- inert gases such as helium
- strong oxidizers such as oxygen, air, or fluorine
- a pyrolysis temperature of 500°C appears to be optimal to pyrolyze approximately 1/2 pound of perfluoropolyether each hour (e.g. in a 3" pyrolysis tube). If the pyrolysis is carried out in fluorine, a delivery rate of approximately lcc/min is needed for each gram pyrolyzed.
- the procedure can be performed at ambient pressure for most applications but it should be recognized that an increase in pressure can be used to lower the molecular weight distribution while a decrease in pressure has the opposite effect. This pressure dependence is observed since the pyrolysis products distill from the high temperature zone.
- the yield obtained is a function of the molecular weight distribution. Due to the random nature of bond breakage, a loss in yield occurs only when a fragment is formed which is too small to be of any use. If the average molecular weight is known and if the lowest useable molecular weight is identified, then an approximate yield can be estimated using simple statistical methods. For example if an average molecular weight of 5000 is desired, approximately 87% of the sample will have a molecular weight above 700.
- any perfluoropolyether can be pyrolyzed to give lower molecular weight polymers by the method of this invention.
- polyhexafluoropropylene oxide when heated to 500°C, randomly breaks apart giving low viscosity fluids.
- Other examples include perfluoro (polyethylene oxide) polymers, perfluoroethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, perfluoro (polytetramethylene oxide) and perfluoropolycyclohexyl oxide polymers.
- Perfluoropolyethers are chemically well suited for this reaction since they do not depolymerize by eliminating monomer units in a sequential manner as many polymers do. Additionally, perfluoropolyethers can break down completely at elevated temperatures in both an inert atmosphere and in an oxidizing atmosphere without leaving a nonvolatile residue.
- perfluoropolyethers prepared via direct fluorination may contain NaHF 2 or NaF because NaF can be added as a HF scavenger.
- NaF HF scavenger
- titanium fluoride and aluminum fluoride or metal oxide (e.g. aluminum oxide) can be added to catalytically reduce the temperature required for pyrolysis.
- sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide can be blended into the polymer prior to pyrolysis to improve the linearity of the fluid produced by breaking any incidental cross-links which may be present in the higher molecular weight polymer.
- the pyrolysis procedure can be performed in the presence of fluorine gas. If cleavage occurs in the presence of elemental fluorine, the radicals resulting from bond breakage are capped with fluorine.
- the thermal cracking of perfluoropolyethylene oxide in the presence of fluorine gas primarily leads to carbon- carbon and carbon-oxygen bond cleavage.
- the carbon- carbon bond being the weaker of the two, is broken preferentially as illustrated by the following equations:
- acyl fluoride terminated polymers which contain a slight degree of unsaturation resulting in very slight discolorations.
- the acyl fluoride end groups and unsaturation can be easily eliminated by treatment of the polymer with fluorine gas at 110°C after pyrolysis.
- the nickel crucible shown in the Figure was filled with 700g of perfluoropolyethylene oxide solids.
- the crucible (nickel tube, outside diameter 2 1 ⁇ 2 inches, length 12 inches) was placed in the nickel pyrolysis tube (outside diameter, 3 inches; length 2 feet) and was purged with several volumes of nitrogen prior to heating.
- the crucible was heated to the pyrolysis temperature (500°C) over a two hour period and was maintained at that temperature for approximately three hours to ensure that all of the polymer is thermally cracked.
- the lower molecular weight fragments distilled out of the crucible which was held at a temperature of approximately 350°C at the top.
- Example 1 The apparatus of Example 1 was charged with 650g of a medium viscosity perfluoropolyethylene oxide fluid (viscosity at 100°F was approximately 100 centistokes) .
- the crucible was. placed in the nickel pyrolysis tube which was purged with several volumes of nitrogen and pressured with 250 psi of nitrogen.
- a nitrogen purge through the pressurized vessel was maintained as the crucible was heated to the pyrolysis temperature (500-600°C). This temperature was maintained for approximately 3 hours which allowed the lower molecular weight fragments to distill out of the crucible and into a collection vessel as they were produced.
- Approximately 580g of a light oil was recovered having a viscosity of 15-20 centistokes at 100°F.
- Example 3 The apparatus of Example I was filled with 725g of a perfluorinated 70:30 ethylene oxide:propylene oxide copolymer.
- the crucible was placed in the nickel pyrolysis tube, was loaded in the pyrolysis apparatus, and was purged with several volumes of nitrogen prior to heating to 500°C.
- the lower molecular weight fragments distilled out of the reactor as they were produced giving rise to 630g of a pale yellow oil which contained some acyl fluoride terminal groups. Titration of the oil with a 1 molar NaOH solution (phenothalein end point) showed that approximately 25% of the terminal groups were reactive acyl fluoride groups.
- Krytox is the trademark of a perfluoropolyether fluid based on hexafluoropropylene oxide which is marketed by Du
- Perfluoropolyether fluids due to their extreme stability and chemical inertness, are useful for many applications such as hydraulic fluids, solvents, lubricants, sealants, etc. However, their uses are currently numbered due to synthetic limitations which prevent the preparation of a fluid with the proper molecular weight distribution.
- the pyrolysis method of this invention can be used to produce low molecular perfluoropolyether fluids from high molecular weight solids (or fluids). By incorporating this pyrolysis technology with existing polymerization or direct fluorination technologies for producing perfluoropolyethers, essentially all molecular weight ranges of perfluoro polyethers can be made in fairly high yields.
Abstract
Procédé de craquage par pyrolyse de perfluoropolyethers en fragments de poids moléculaire inférieur. Les perfluoropolyethers sont pyrolysés généralement à une température allant de 500 à 600oC. Les composants volatils de poids moléculaire inférieur sont condensés et collectés. Des fractions de poids moléculaire différent peuvent être obtenues en effectuant des prélèvements appropriés pendant la distillation.Cracking process by pyrolysis of perfluoropolyethers into fragments of lower molecular weight. Perfluoropolyethers are generally pyrolyzed at a temperature ranging from 500 to 600oC. The lower molecular weight volatile components are condensed and collected. Fractions of different molecular weights can be obtained by taking appropriate samples during distillation.
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US79662485A | 1985-11-08 | 1985-11-08 | |
US796624 | 1985-11-08 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0256024A1 true EP0256024A1 (en) | 1988-02-24 |
Family
ID=25168638
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP86907094A Withdrawn EP0256024A1 (en) | 1985-11-08 | 1986-10-31 | The pyrolysis of perfluoropolyethers |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0256024A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS63501299A (en) |
KR (1) | KR880700838A (en) |
BR (1) | BR8606970A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1283129C (en) |
WO (1) | WO1987002995A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0848623B1 (en) | 1996-07-05 | 2003-10-08 | Disetronic Licensing AG | Injection device for injection of liquid |
CN115181257B (en) * | 2022-08-09 | 2023-06-09 | 浙江巨化技术中心有限公司 | Method for reducing molecular weight of perfluoropolyether |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3242218A (en) * | 1961-03-29 | 1966-03-22 | Du Pont | Process for preparing fluorocarbon polyethers |
FR1530862A (en) * | 1966-07-11 | 1968-06-28 | Montedison Spa | Fluorinated ketones and process for preparing them |
IL31863A0 (en) * | 1968-04-23 | 1969-05-28 | Du Pont | 4-phenyl(substituted bicyclo(2.2.2)octene)-1-carboxylic acids related compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing them |
US3847978A (en) * | 1968-07-01 | 1974-11-12 | Montedison Spa | Perfluorinated linear polyethers having reactive terminal groups at both ends of the chain and process for the preparation thereof |
BE764110A (en) * | 1970-03-12 | 1971-09-13 | Montedison Spa | Cyclic perfluoro polyethers |
US4523039A (en) * | 1980-04-11 | 1985-06-11 | The University Of Texas | Method for forming perfluorocarbon ethers |
CA1263405A (en) * | 1984-05-23 | 1989-11-28 | Giantommaso Viola | Process for preparing neutral and functional perfluoropolyethers with controlled molecular weight |
-
1986
- 1986-10-31 EP EP86907094A patent/EP0256024A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1986-10-31 JP JP61506093A patent/JPS63501299A/en active Pending
- 1986-10-31 WO PCT/US1986/002345 patent/WO1987002995A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1986-10-31 BR BR8606970A patent/BR8606970A/en unknown
- 1986-11-07 CA CA000522463A patent/CA1283129C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1987
- 1987-07-08 KR KR870700593A patent/KR880700838A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO8702995A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU6622186A (en) | 1987-06-02 |
CA1283129C (en) | 1991-04-16 |
JPS63501299A (en) | 1988-05-19 |
BR8606970A (en) | 1987-12-01 |
AU590646B2 (en) | 1989-11-09 |
WO1987002995A1 (en) | 1987-05-21 |
KR880700838A (en) | 1988-04-12 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19871026 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19890505 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19930119 |
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RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: LAGOW, RICHARD, J. Inventor name: JUHLKE, TIMOTHY, J. Inventor name: BIERSCHENK, THOMAS, R. Inventor name: KAWA, HAJIMU, M. |