A method for producing a fluoropolymer of the invention which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer. The surfactant includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a surfactant represented by R.sup.1a—CO—R.sup.2a—CO—R.sup.3a-A.sup.a and a surfactant represented by R.sup.1b—CO—(CR.sup.2b.sub.2).sub.n—(OR.sup.3b).sub.p—(CR.sup.4b.sub.2).sub.q-L-A.sup.b.

A method for producing a fluoropolymer of the invention which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer. The surfactant includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a surfactant represented by R.sup.1a—CO—R.sup.2a—CO—R.sup.3a-A.sup.a and a surfactant represented by R.sup.1b—CO—(CR.sup.2b.sub.2).sub.n—(OR.sup.3b).sub.p—(CR.sup.4b.sub.2).sub.q-L-A.sup.b.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing fluoropolymers or fluoroelastomers in an aqueous medium using a non fluorinated sulfonate type hydrocarbon containing surfactant, said process comprising the steps of: (a) forming an aqueous solution comprising an non-fluorinated, hydrocarbon containing, sulfonate anionic type surfactant in a polymerization reactor; (b) pressurizing the reactor with fluoromonomers to form an aqueous emulsion; (c) initiating polymerization of said fluoromonomers; and (d) Propagating the reaction (e) Terminating the reaction after consumption of desired weight of fluoromonomers; wherein the non-fluorinated, hydrocarbon containing, sulfonate type surfactant comprises 18 to 36 carbon atoms, wherein the molecular weight of the fluoropolymer ranges from 1×10.sup.3 to 9×10.sup.8 g/mol and wherein said process is devoid of passivating the surfactant.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing fluoropolymers or fluoroelastomers in an aqueous medium using a non fluorinated sulfonate type hydrocarbon containing surfactant, said process comprising the steps of: (a) forming an aqueous solution comprising an non-fluorinated, hydrocarbon containing, sulfonate anionic type surfactant in a polymerization reactor; (b) pressurizing the reactor with fluoromonomers to form an aqueous emulsion; (c) initiating polymerization of said fluoromonomers; and (d) Propagating the reaction (e) Terminating the reaction after consumption of desired weight of fluoromonomers; wherein the non-fluorinated, hydrocarbon containing, sulfonate type surfactant comprises 18 to 36 carbon atoms, wherein the molecular weight of the fluoropolymer ranges from 1×10.sup.3 to 9×10.sup.8 g/mol and wherein said process is devoid of passivating the surfactant.

The invention pertains to a method of making fluoropolymer dispersions using certain polymeric derivatives including a plurality of ionisable groups selected from the group consisting of —SO.sub.3X.sub.a, —PO.sub.3X.sub.a and —COOX.sub.a, whereas X.sub.a is H, an ammonium group or a monovalent metal, and to fluoropolymer dispersions therefrom.

The invention pertains to a method of making fluoropolymer dispersions using certain polymeric derivatives including a plurality of ionisable groups selected from the group consisting of —SO.sub.3X.sub.a, —PO.sub.3X.sub.a and —COOX.sub.a, whereas X.sub.a is H, an ammonium group or a monovalent metal, and to fluoropolymer dispersions therefrom.

The invention pertains to a method of making fluoropolymer dispersions using certain polymeric derivatives including a plurality of ionisable groups selected from the group consisting of —SO.sub.3X.sub.a, —PO.sub.3X.sub.a and —COOX.sub.a, whereas X.sub.a is H, an ammonium group or a monovalent metal, and to fluoropolymer dispersions therefrom.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a coating composition containing a dissolved, specific fluoropolymer at a high concentration that is usable in fluoropolymer coating. The present disclosure relates to a coating composition containing a fluoropolymer and an aprotic solvent, and the fluoropolymer contains, as a main component, a monomer unit represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are each independently a fluorine atom, a fluoroalkyl group, or a fluoroalkoxy group; and the concentration of the fluoropolymer is 20 mass % or more based on the total mass of the coating composition.

A composition including a fluoropolymer and substantially free from a compound represented by the following formula (3): (H—(CF.sub.2).sub.8—SO.sub.3).sub.qM.sup.2, wherein M.sup.2 is H, a metal atom, NR.sup.5.sub.4, imidazolium optionally containing a substituent, pyridinium optionally containing a substituent, or phosphonium optionally containing a substituent; R.sup.5s are each H or an organic group and are the same as or different from each other; and q is 1 or 2.

A composition including a fluoropolymer and substantially free from a compound represented by the following formula (3): (H—(CF.sub.2).sub.8—SO.sub.3).sub.qM.sup.2, wherein M.sup.2 is H, a metal atom, NR.sup.5.sub.4, imidazolium optionally containing a substituent, pyridinium optionally containing a substituent, or phosphonium optionally containing a substituent; R.sup.5s are each H or an organic group and are the same as or different from each other; and q is 1 or 2.