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Perfluoroether triazine elastomers having improved properties are prepared from oligomeric imidoylamidines that were in turn, prepared by the process of: (1) reacting a perfluorodinitrile with liquid ammonia to yield a perfluorodiamidine, (2) isolating the perfluorodiamidine, (3) reacting the isolated diamidine with a perfluorodinitrile to yield a perfluoro(imidoylamidine) dinitrile, and then repeating the steps to sequentially grow an oligomer of desired molecular size. The isolated amidine and nitrile intermediates are also disclosed. The elastomers can be fashioned into seals, gaskets, and sealing components and the like.

Fluorinated alkyl or alkylether 1,2,4 oxadiazole compounds are prepared by cyclizing the corresponding alkyl or alkylether imidoyl amidoximes in vacuo or in an inert atmosphere at a temperature within the range of 40 C to 100 C. for a period of 8 to 144 hours in the presence of an acid compound which can accept ammonia to form a salt. The imidoyl amidoximes usable in this process are either polymeric or nonpolymeric. The products, when polymeric, have excellent heat, chemical and solvent resistance.

The relative stability of two ring systems, the triazine rings and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles, which offer potential crosslinks useful for curing perfluoroalkyl ether elastomers, has been investigated. Tris (perfluoro-n-heptyl)-s-triazine, the perfluoroether substituted-s-triazine, 1,4-bis/(5-perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazolyl/benzene, its perfluoroalkyl ether substituted analog, and 3,5-bis-(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole were synthesized and subjected to thermal and oxidative degradation at 235 and 325 C and to hydrolytic degradation at 235 C. The perfluoroalkyl ether substituted triazine and 3,5-bis(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole were found to be stable under all conditions investigated.

A method for the simultaneous chain extension and crosslinking of perfluoroalkylethers which yields a thermally stable perfluoroalkylether oxadiazole elastomer crosslinked by trifunctional perfluoroalkylether-1,3,5-triazine is reported. In the preparation, hydroxylamine crystals prepared from hydroxylamine hydrochloride to which sodium butoxide had been added is mixed with perfluoroalkylether dinitrile to obtain the monomer, as the nitrile is converted to amidoxime. Monomers are heated at 140 to 200 C to form poly(perfluoroalkylether oxadiazole) with a 1,2,4-oxadiazole structure by a step-growth polymerization reaction. Simultaneous chain extension and crosslinking are observed to occur when the purified monomer is heated directly and when the remaining nitrile in the monomer is allowed to react with excess ammonia to form the corresponding amidine, which is then heated. Weight loss studies show the thermal stability of the perfluoroalkylether elastomer to be generally better than fluorosilicone or polyester elastomers, especially in air, indicating its potential usefulness for high-performance elastomeric applications.

2,5-Bis(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-, 2-perfluoroalkylether-5-perfluoro-n- heptyl- , and 2 , 5-bisperfluoroalkylether-1,3,4-oxadiazoles were synthesized and characterized. 2,5-Bis(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole was thermally and hydrolytically stable at 325 C; however, in the presence of air, degradation took place at 235 C. The perfluoroalkylether analogue exhibited thermal and hydrolytic stability at 325 C; it was found to be unaffected by jet-A fuel and air at 235 C. At 325 C in air some degradation occurred as evidenced by volatiles production, oxygen consumption, and 96% starting material recovery.

3-Perfluoroalkylether-5-perfluoro-n-heptyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole and 3,S-bis(perfluoroalkylether)-1,2,4-oxadiazole were synthesized and characterized. The 3, 5-bis(perfluoroalkylether)-l, 2,4-oxadiazole was subjected to thermal, thermal oxidative, and hydrolytic degradations at 235 and 325 C and was found to be stable under these conditions as evidenced by practically quantitative recovery of the test samples. In the presence of Jet-A fuel at 235 C a low degree of degradation, approximately 4%, was observed. 3,5-Bis(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole was found to be stable to attack by water at 325 C; however in air in the presence of jet-A at 235 C the extent of degradation was in excess of 10%.

Papers are presented dealing with the development of aircraft seats with the minimum fire risk. Criteria examined include: flame spread, heat release, and smoke and/or toxic fumes. Materials and performance specifications of all seat material options are provided.