LASER-INDUCED DEGRADATION OF HEXAFLUOROPROPYLENE OXIDE

Pyrolysis of hexafluoropropylene oxide under the action of a transvers ely excited atmospheric CO2 laser in the presence of SF6 as a sensitiz er was studied. By comparing experimental and theoretical data on the degree of decomposition of hexafluoropropylene oxide, its degradation rate constant was determined as k(1) = 10(13.8+/-0.2) x exp[-(153+/-4) /RT] s(-1), where RT is in kJ/mol. The CF2 species was detected using the technique of UV absorption spectrometry. The UV absorption measure ments gave the k(2) value of (5+/-1) x 10(7) 1 mol(-1) s(-1) for the c ombination rate constant. The mechanism of degradation reactions occur ring upon pulsed laser pyrolysis is discussed.