| abstract |
The invention herein disclosed provides a method for preparing improved fluoroelastomer film compositions including the steps of dissolving a fluoroelastomer gum selected from the group consisting of copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, and terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene in a solvent, adding an amine-derived curative to the gum solution and curing the fluoroelastomer gum with the curative in the absence of metallic oxides. A method is also provided for adhering fluoroelastomer film compositions, devoid of metallic oxides, to substrates which includes the steps of dissolving the fluoroelastomer gum in a solvent, adding an amine-derived curative to the gum solution, coating the substrate with the fluoroelastomer gum-curative solution and evaporating the solvent leaving a film firmly adhered to the substrate. When metallic oxides are present, the foregoing method can also be practiced by including the step of adding an epoxy resin to the composition. The fluoroelastomer film compositions disclosed herein are also novel and can be used to coat a variety of substrates thereby providing other novel, useful articles. |