1. A curable composition comprising
a) perfluoropolyethers having a molecular weight of from about 400 gmole up to about 20,000 gmole and containing moieties selected from the group consisting of (\u2014(CF2)4O\u2014), (\u2014(CF2)2O\u2014), (\u2014CF2O\u2014) and combinations thereof and further containing at least one nitrile group at a terminal position or at a position that is adjacent to the terminal position;
b) one or more curing agents selected from non-fluorinated compounds containing one or more functional group linked to a common residue, said residue containing at least three carbon atoms wherein the functional groups are selected from primary amines, secondary amines and functional groups that generate primary or secondary amines upon a heat treatment,
wherein the composition can be cured to generate a cured polymer comprising segments of the perfluoropolyethers separated by groups having a triazine ring structure.
2. The curable composition of claim 1 wherein the perfluoropolyethers are represented by the general formula
X-A-Y
wherein X and Y independently from each other represent a nitrile, a perfluoroalkylnitrile or a perfluoroalkyl group with the proviso that at least one of X or Y is a nitrile or perfluoroalkylnitrile group, A denotes a perfluoropolyether unit comprising a plurality of units selected from the group consisting of (\u2014(CF2)4O\u2014), (\u2014(CF2)2O\u2014), (\u2014CF2O\u2014) and combinations thereof.
3. The curable composition of claim 1 wherein the curing agent is represented by the formula:
(R1\u2014NH)x\u2014R\u2014(NHR2)y
wherein each R1 and R2 independently represent H, an aliphatic group or a group \u2014COOR\u2032 with R\u2032 representing H, an ammonium compound, a metal atom or an alkyl group;
R represents a linking group linking the functional groups (R1\u2014NH)x\u2014 and \u2014(NHR2)y and contains at least 3 carbon atoms, x represents an integer from 1 to 5 and y represents an integer from 1 to 5.
4. The curable composition of claim 1 wherein the curing agent is represented by the formula:
(R1\u2014NH)x\u2014R\u2014(NHR2)y
wherein each R1 and R2 independently represent H, an aliphatic group or a group \u2014COOR\u2032 with R\u2032 representing H, an ammonium compound, a metal atom or an alkyl group;
R represents a linking group linking the functional groups (R1\u2014NH)x\u2014 and \u2014(NHR2)y and is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkylenes, aryls, heteroaryls, arylalkylenes and heteroarylalkylenes;
x represents an integer from 1 to 5 and y represents an integer from 1 to 5, and the sum of x and y is at least 2 and less than 5.
5. The curable composition of claim 1 wherein the curing agent is selected from the group consisting of alkylene diamines, alkylene diamine carbamates, and nitrogen-heteroaryl amines.
6. The curable composition of claim 1 wherein the perfluoropolyethers further comprise branched \u2014(C3F6O)\u2014 units.
7. The curable composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one filler.
8. A composition comprising a cured perfluoropolyether-based polymer containing perfluoropolyether segments having a molecular weight of from about 400 gmole up to about 20,000 gmole and containing a plurality of moieties selected from the group consisting of (\u2014(CF2)4O\u2014), (\u2014(CF2)2O\u2014), (\u2014CF2O\u2014) and combinations thereof and being separated by groups having a triazine ring structure derived from the reaction of one or more curing agent selected from non-fluorinated compounds containing one or more functional group linked to a common residue, said residue containing at least three carbon atoms wherein the functional groups are selected from primary amines, secondary amines and functional groups that generate primary or secondary amines upon a heat treatment, wherein the composition has a glass transition temperature of from \u221260\xb0 C. to \u2212120\xb0 C.
9. The composition of claim 8 having a glass transition temperature of from \u221260\xb0 C. to \u2212120\xb0 C. and one or more of the mechanical properties selected from the group consisting of:
a) an elongation at break of at least 50%;
b) a shore A hardness of at least 15; and
c) a tensile strength of at least 1 MPa.
10. The composition of claim 8 wherein the perfluoropolyether segment further comprises a plurality of branched \u2014(C3F6O)\u2014 units.
11. The composition of claim 8 wherein the perfluoropolyether-based polymer is an elastomer.
12. A molded article comprising a cured perfluoropolyether-based polymer containing perfluoropolyether segments having a molecular weight of from about 400 gmole up to about 20,000 gmole and containing a plurality of moieties selected from the group consisting of (\u2014(CF2)4O\u2014), (\u2014(CF2)2O\u2014), (\u2014CF2O\u2014) and combinations thereof separated by groups having a triazine ring structure derived from the reaction of one or more curing agent selected from non-fluorinated compounds containing one or more functional group linked to a common residue, said residue containing at least three carbon atoms wherein the functional groups are selected from primary amines, secondary amines and functional groups that generate primary or secondary amines upon a heat treatment, wherein the composition has a glass transition temperature of from 60\xb0 C. to \u2212120\xb0 C.
13. The molded article of claim 12 being a seal that is part of a fuel management system or a component of a device for storing or producing liquefied gases.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A touch panel comprising:
(a) a flexible polarizing element;
(b) a flexible, substantially non-birefringent support element having a first surface bonded to said polarizing element and a conductive second surface; and
(c) a substrate having a conductive surface, said conductive surfaces of said substrate and said support element arranged such that deformation of said support element will cause selective contact of said conductive surfaces.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent support element comprises a plastic.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent support element comprises a polycarbonate.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate is substantially non-birefringent.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent support element comprises triacetate cellulose.
6. A touch panel comprising:
(a) a substrate having a conductive surface
(b) a flexible, substantially non-birefringent cover having a first surface and a conductive second surface, said conductive surfaces of said substrate and said cover arranged such that deformation of said flexible cover will cause selective contact of said conductive surfaces; and
(c) a polarizer supported by said first surface of said cover.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent cover comprises a plastic.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent cover comprises a polycarbonate.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent cover comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent cover comprises triacetate cellulose.
11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent cover comprises a material having a retardation no greater than 25.
12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent cover comprises a material having a retardation no greater than 15.
13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible, substantially non-birefringent cover comprises a material having a retardation no greater than 5.