ELECTRON-BEAM IRRADIATION OF A PERFLUOROALKOXY FLUOROCARBON RESIN - TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE PERFLUOROMETHYL VINYL ETHER COPOLYMER/

Tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoromethyl vinyl ether copolymer was exposed to electron beams and analyzed for structural changes and volatiles ge nerated via infrared spectroscopy. When the copolymer is irradiated, g ases are produced, mass loss is induced, and acid fluoride end groups are formed in the bulk. CF4, COF2, CO2, and CF3OCF3 are produced with G values of 0.93, 0.31, 0.055, and 0.14, respectively. The sum of the G values for gas formation, 1.43, provides an upper limit estimate for side chain cleavage. The G value for formation of acid fluoride in th e bulk is 0.34 and provides a lower limit estimate for main chain scis sion. Hence, most of the side chain scissioning leads to reactions tha t do not produce acid fluoride end groups.