Radiation-Induced Emulsion Copolymerization of Tetrafluoroethylene with Propylene.I

Abstract

Abstract Formulus and reaction conditions for the radiation-induced emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene were studied at room temperature in order to obtain higher molecular weight copolymer than those obtained in bulk or solution. It was found that ammonium perfluorooctanoate as an emulsifier is most suitable to obtain a stable latex of high molecular weight copolymer with good reactivity. The high molecular weight copolymer is obtained by using the emulsifier at high mole fraction of tetrafluoroethylene under the saturated vapor pressure of the monomer mixture. The molecular weight range of copolymers obtained in this experiment was from 3.0×104 to 8×104, and these are higher than those obtained in bulk or solution. It was found that low molecular weight copolymer is a by-product of the polymerization in monomer droplets when the radiation-induced emulsion copolymerization is carried out in the presence of excess monomer. This is a characteristic feature of the radiation-induc...