Fluorine-containing copolymer

Abstract

A fluorine-containing copolymer, which comprises a hydroxyl-terminated fluorine-containing vinyl ether, represented by the following general formula: CF 2 ═CFORfCH 2 OH (where Rf is a fluoroalkylene group, a fluoroalkyl ether group, or a fluoroalkoxyfluoroalkyl ether group, having 1-25 carbon atoms), and at least one of other fluorine-containing unsaturated monomers, where a high-molecular weight fluorine-containing copolymer having a melt viscosity (230° C.) of 0.1-100 g/10 min. is insoluble in a solvent, and can be used suitably for melt molding, whereas a low-molecular weight fluorine-containing copolymer having a glass transition temperature Tg of 20° C., or higher, and a number average molecular weight Mn of 1,000, or more is soluble in a solvent, and can be used suitably for coating agents, etc. The fluorine-containing copolymer has a high light transmissivity, and a low refractive index, and also has, as such, a good adhesiveness to various substrated without any surface treatment, any adhesives, or the like.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A fluorine-containing copolymer which comprises 30-68% by weight of hydroxyl-terminated, fluorine-containing vinyl ether, represented by the following general formula:
   CF 2 ═CFORfCH 2 OH   
     (where Rf is a fluoroalkylene group, a fluoroalkyl ether group, or a fluoroalkoxyfluoroalkyl ether group, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms), and 70-32% by weight of at least one of other fluorine-containing unsaturated monomers. 
   
   
       12 . A fluorine-containing copolymer according to  claim 11 , wherein the fluorine-containing vinyl ether is a hydroxyl-terminated fluorine-containing vinyl ether represented by the following general formula:
   CF 2 ═CF[OCF 2 CF(CF 3 )] b O(CF 2 ) a O[CF(CF 3 )CF 2 O] c CF(CF 3 )CH 2 OH   
     (where subscript a is an integer of 1-10, and the total of subscripts b+c is an integer of 0-8). 
   
   
       13 . A fluorine-containing copolymer according to  claim 11 , which has a glass transition temperature Tg of 20° C., or higher, and a number average molecular weight Mn of 1,000 or more. 
   
   
       14 . A fluorine-containing copolymer according to  claim 13 , which has a number average molecular weight Mn of 1,000-300,000. 
   
   
       15 . A fluorine-containing copolymer according to  claim 13 , which has a light transmissivity at wavelengths of 250-650 nm of 70% or more. 
   
   
       16 . A fluorine-containing copolymer according to  claim 13 , which has a refractive index at 589 nm of 1.36 or less. 
   
   
       17 . A solution of a fluorine-containing copolymer according to  claim 13  in an organic solvent. 
   
   
       18 . A solution of a fluorine-containing copolymer in an organic solvent according to  claim 17 , for use as a coating agent. 
   
   
       19 . A thin film formed from a solution of fluorine-containing copolymer in an organic solvent according to  claim 18 . 
   
   
       20 . A multilayered structure, or composite, which comprises a thin film according to  claim 19 , and a substrate, on which the thin film is formed. 
   
   
       21 . A fluorine-containing copolymer according to  claim 11 , wherein the hydroxyl-terminated fluorine-containing vinyl ether is copolymerized in a proportion of 35-67% by weight. 
   
   
       22 . A fluorine-containing copolymer according to  claim 11 , wherein the fluorine-containing unsaturated monomers are compounds represented by the following general formula:
   R 1 R 2 C═CR 3 R 4      
     (where R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are same or different groups, which are individually hydrogen atoms, chlorine atoms, fluorine atoms, fluoroalkyl groups, fluoroalkyl ether groups, or fluoroalkoxyfluoroalkyl ether groups, having 1-24 carbon atoms, at least one of which is a fluorine atom, or a fluorine-containing group).