About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Chemistry of Materials
Paper
Electron Beam Irradiation of Polyperfluoroethers: Experimental Analysis of Main-Chain Degradation
Abstract
The electron beam irradiation of polyperfluorinated ethers are investigated. Main-chain scissioning is the predominant effect, inducing a weight loss in the bulk materials caused by evolution of small gas molecules such as COF2 and CF4. The G values for main-chain scissioning, mass loss, and gas evolution are determined from experiment and correlated to structural differences. From these results we conclude that unbranched polyperfluoroethers degrade more efficiently and produce more COF2 than branched polymers when the monomer units contain −CF2−CF2−O− and/or −CF2O− in the main chain. With a pendant perfluoromethyl, −CF(CF3)−CF2−O−, or an additional carbon atom in the main-chain monomer unit, −CF2−CF2−CF2−O−, the electron beam induced degradation is comparatively less efficient; in the branched polymers, CF4 evolution competes with COF2 formation. © 1993, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.