The thermal desorption mass spectra of polytetrafluoroethylene modified under the action of radiation at elevated temperatures

Abstract

The products of the pyrolysis of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in a vacuum modified under the action of gamma irradiation in the molten state were studied mass spectrometrically at various temperatures. Radiation modification was found to cause the appearance of an additional stage of the thermal decomposition of PTFE at decreased temperatures compared with not irradiated PTFE. The chemical composition of the gas components of thermal decomposition substantially changes after the irradiation of PTFE, which increases the molecular weight of decomposition products. A comparison with the results of an additional study of the thermal decomposition of tetrafluoroethylene copolymer with hexafluoropropylene is evidence of the formation of side CF3 groups in PTFE under irradiation. Data on the composition of gaseous products of PTFE radiolysis under gamma irradiation were obtained.