Radiation-Induced Polymerization of Tetrafluoroethylene

Abstract

Abstract Polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene was carried out in bulk at low temperatures by initiation with γ-rays from a 60 Co source. It was found that a remarkable postpolymerization takes place even in the liquid phase. Kinetical analysis has been made of the in-source and postpolymerizations. An activation energy of 2.7 kcal/mole was obtained for the in-source polymerization and 10.3 kcal/mole for the postpolymerization. The long lifetime of polymer radicals in the liquid phase at -78°C seems to be due to the slow recombination rate of the polymer radicals, based on the rodlike shape of the polymer radicals.