Published December 1998 | Version v1
Journal article

Thermal and mechanical properties of radiation crosslinked poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoromethyl vinyl ether)

  • 1. Polymer Materials and Radiation Group, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD (Australia)
  • 2. DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C., DuPont Experimental Station, Wilmington, DE (United States)
  • 3. Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Research Establishment, Watanuki-cho, Takasaki-shi, Gunma (Japan)
  • 4. Centre for Magnetic Resonance, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD (Australia)

Description

The γ-radiolysis of poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoromethyl vinyl ether) (TFE/PMVE) was investigated using chemical and mechanical analyses. The polymer was found to form an insoluble network with a dose of gelation of 15.8 kGy. Tensile and glass transition temperature measurements indicated the predominance of crosslinking, with optimal elastomeric properties reached in the dose range of 120 to 200 kGy. Photoacoustic FTIR spectroscopy (PAS) showed the formation of new carboxylic acid end groups on irradiation. These new end groups were shown to decrease the thermal oxidative stability of the crosslinked network as determined by thermal gravimetric analysis. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of the polymer at 77 K indicated the presence of radical precursors. A G-value of 1.1 was determined for radical production at 77 K. Comparison of radical concentrations for a copolymer with a different mole ratio of PMVE, indicated that the PMVE units contribute to scission reactions

Additional details

Identifiers

PII
S0969806X97002703;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Radiation Physics and Chemistry (1993)
Journal Volume
53
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 657-667
ISSN
0969-806X
CODEN
RPCHDM

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.