Study of synthesis and properties of tetrafluoroethylene–propylene copolymers

Abstract

AbstractBulk copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with propylene (P) initiated by tert‐butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) in the temperature interval 323–363 K, monomer pressure from 2 to 9 MPa, and TFE and P molar ratio from 20/80 to 90/10 was carried out. The effect of these reaction conditions on the yield, molecular weight, and polymer composition of the copolymer synthesized was studied. Rubber‐like alternating copolymers in a wide range of monomer compositions of TFE and P (from 40 to 80 mol %) were obtained. The reaction proceeds in a stationary state without an induction period. Monomolecular chain transfer reaction (Cp = 5 × 10−4) to propylene takes place. The relative reactivity ratio of P and TFE (0.15 and 0.01, respectively) and apparent activation energy Eα = 75.8 kJ/mol of the reaction were determined.