DuPont Dow awarded patent for extrusion processing breakthrough

Two researchers at DuPont Dow Elastomers have been given a patent for an invention said to represent a breakthrough in extrudable product manufacturing using process aid technology. The patent has been granted to G.R. Chapman and S.R. Oriani for their discovery, called “Process Aid for Melt Processible Polymers.”
The patent claims that extrudable compositions that contain primarily large-particle fluoropolymer process aid improve processability, have fewer melt defects and condition faster. “Large particle size fluoroelastomer” is defined as greater than two microns and less than 10 microns. Prior to this research, the common recommendation was to use a small particle size fluoropolymer process aid and that it be well dispersed in the polymer for the best processability.
DuPont Dow has announced a new line of polymer process additives, Viton FreeFlow Z fluoroelastomer process aids, based on this discovery.