Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for coating polytetrafluoroethylene fabrics, fibers, yarns, or threads comprising: (a) contacting polytetrafluoroethylene fabrics, fibers, yarns, or threads with a sizing composition of an effective amount of a perfluorinated polymer containing sites convertible to ion exchange groups and an effective amount of a treating agent having: a boiling point less than about 110° C.; a density of from about 1.55 to about 2.97 grams per cubic centimeter; and a solubility parameter of from greater than about 7.1 to about 8.2 hildebrands; (b) removing the treating agent from the sizing composition, thereby depositing the perfluorinated polymer onto the surface of the polytetrafluoroethylene; and (c) hydrolyzing the perfluorinated polymer to make it water wettable.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for coating polytetrafluoroethylene fabrics, fibers, yarns, or threads comprising: (a) contacting polytetrafluoroethylene fabrics, fibers, yarns, or threads with a sizing composition of an effective amount of a perfluorinated polymer containing sites convertible to ion exchange groups and an effective amount of a treating agent having: a boiling point less than about 110° C.; a density of from about 1.55 to about 2.97 grams per cubic centimeter; and a solubility parameter of from greater than about 7.1 to about 8.2 hildebrands; (b) removing the treating agent from the sizing composition, thereby depositing the perfluorinated polymer onto the surface of the polytetrafluoroethylene; and (c) hydrolyzing the perfluorinated polymer to make it water wettable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
245 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the perfluorinated polymer is a copolymer of a first type of monomer and a second type of monomer: wherein the first type of monomer is represented by the general formula: CF.sub.2 ═CZZ' (I) where: Z and Z' are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --Cl, --F, or CF 3; Y--(CF.sub.2).sub.a --(CFR.sub.f).sub.b --(CFR.sub.f').sub.c --O--[CF(CF.sub.2 X)--CF.sub.2 O].sub.n --CF═CF.sub.2 (II) where: Y is selected from the group consisting of --SO 2 Z, --CN, --COZ, and C(R 3 f)(R 4 f)OH; Z is I, --Br, --Cl, --F, --OR or --NR 1 R 2 ; R is a branched or linear alkyl radical having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical; R 3 f and R 4 f are independently selected from the group consisting of perfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, a branched or linear alkyl radical having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical; a is 0-6; b is 0-6; c is 0 or 1; provided a+b+c is not equal to 0; X is --Cl, --Br, --F or mixtures thereof when n>1; n is 0 to 6; and R f and R f' are independently selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, perfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and fluorochloroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the perfluorinated polymer is a copolymer formed from three types of monomers wherein the third type of monomer is one or more monomers represented by the general formula: Y'--(CF.sub.2).sub.a' --(CFR.sub.f).sub.b' --(CFR'.sub.f).sub.c'--O--[CF(CF.sub.2 X')--CF.sub.2 --O].sub.n' --CF═CF.sub.2 (III) where: Y' is --F, --Cl or --Br; a' and b' are independently 0-3; c' is 0 or 1; provided a'+b'+c' is not equal to 0;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
n' is 0-6; R f and R' f are independently selected from the group consisting of --Br, --Cl, --F, perfluoroalkyl radicals having from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and chloroperfluoroalkyl radicals having from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; and X' is --F, --Cl, --Br, or mixtures thereof when n'>1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
n' is 0-6; R f and R' f are independently selected from the group consisting of --Br, --Cl, --F, perfluoroalkyl radicals having from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and chloroperfluoroalkyl radicals having from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; and X' is --F, --Cl, --Br, or mixtures thereof when n'>1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the boiling point of the treating agent is from about 30° C. to about 110° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the density of the treating agent is from about 1.55 to about 2.97 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the solubility parameter of the treating agent is from greater than about 7.1 to about 8.2 hildebrands.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the density of the treating agent and the density of the polymer are both from about 1.55 to about 2.2 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer is hydrolyzed by contacting the polymer with an alkaline solution at a temperature and for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least a portion of the polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer is hydrolyzed by contacting the polymer with an acid solution at a temperature and for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least a portion of the polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the alkaline solution is a sodium or potassium solution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the solution is maintained at a temperature of from about 10° C. to about 110° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the solution is maintained at a temperature of from about 70° to about 80° C.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for coating polytetrafluoroethylene fabrics, fibers, yarns, or threads comprising: (a) contacting polytetrafluoroethylene fabrics or threads with a sizing composition having an effective amount of a perfluorinated polymer containing sites convertible to ion exchange groups and an effective amount of a treating agent, wherein the treating agent is represented by the general formula: XCF.sub.2 --CYZX' wherein: X is selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, --Br, and --I; X' is selected from the group consisting of --Cl, --Br, and --I; Y and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --F, --Cl, --Br, --I and --R'; R' is selected from the group of perfluoroalkyl radicals and chloroperfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; (b) removing the treating agent from the sizing composition, thereby depositing the perfluorinated polymer onto the surface of the polytetrafluoroethylene; and (c) hydrolyzing the perfluorinated polymer to make it water wettable.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for coating polytetrafluoroethylene fabrics, fibers, yarns, or threads comprising: (a) contacting polytetrafluoroethylene fabrics or threads with a sizing composition having an effective amount of a perfluorinated polymer containing sites convertible to ion exchange groups and an effective amount of a treating agent, wherein the treating agent is represented by the general formula: XCF.sub.2 --CYZX' wherein: X is selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, --Br, and --I; X' is selected from the group consisting of --Cl, --Br, and --I; Y and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --F, --Cl, --Br, --I and --R'; R' is selected from the group of perfluoroalkyl radicals and chloroperfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; (b) removing the treating agent from the sizing composition, thereby depositing the perfluorinated polymer onto the surface of the polytetrafluoroethylene; and (c) hydrolyzing the perfluorinated polymer to make it water wettable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein X and X' are --Br.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein X and X' are --Cl.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the polymer is present in the sizing composition at a concentration of from about 0.1 to about 50 weight percent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the polymer is present in the sizing composition at a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 30 weight percent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
257 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the perfluorinated polymer is a copolymer of a first type of monomer and a second type of monomer: wherein the first type of monomer is represented by the general formula: CF.sub.2 ═CZZ' (I) where: Z and Z' are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --Cl, --F, or --CF 3; the second type of monomer is a compound represented by the general formula: Y--(CF.sub.2).sub.a --(CFR.sub.f).sub.b --(CFR.sub.f').sub.c --O--[CF(CF.sub.2 X)--CF.sub.2 --O].sub.n --CF═CF.sub.2 (II) where: Y is selected from the group consisting of --SO 2 Z, --CN, --COZ, and C(R 3 f)(R 4 f)OH; Z is I, --Br, --Cl, --F, --OR or --NR 1 R 2; R is a branched or linear alkyl radical having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical; R 3 f and R 4 f are independently selected from the group consisting of perfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, a branched or linear alkyl radical having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical; a is 0-6; b is 0-6; c is 0 or 1; provided a+b+c is not equal to 0; X is --Cl, --Br, --F or mixtures thereof when n>1; n is 0 to 6; and R f and R f' are independently selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, perfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and fluorochloroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the perfluorinated polymer is a copolymer formed from three types of monomers wherein the third type of monomer is one or more monomers represented by the general formula: Y'--(CF.sub.2).sub.a' --(CFR.sub.f).sub.b' --(CFR'.sub.f).sub.c' --O--[CF(CF.sub.2 X')--CF.sub.2 --O].sub.n' --CF═CF.sub.2 (III) where: Y' is --F, --Cl or --Br; a' and b' are independently 0-3; c' is 0 or 1; provided a'+b'+c' is not equal to 0; n is 0-6; R f and R' f are independently selected from the group consisting of --Br, --Cl, --F, perfluoroalkyl radicals having from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and chloroperfluoroalkyl radicals having from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; and X' is --F, --Cl, --Br, or mixtures thereof when n'>1.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 where Y is --SO 2 F or --COOCH 3; n is 0 or 1; R f and R f' are F; X is --Cl or --F; and a+b+c =2 or 3.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the polymer is hydrolyzed by contacting the polymer with an alkaline solution at a temperature and for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least a portion of the polymer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the polymer, in its carboxylic-type ion exchange form, is hydrolyzed by contacting the polymer with an acid solution at a temperature and for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least a portion of the polymer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the alkaline solution is a sodium or potassium solution.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the solution is maintained at a temperature of from about 10° C. to about 110° C.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the solution is maintained at a temperature of from about 70° to about 80° C.