FORMATION OF FREE-RADICALS IN THE LOW-TEMPERATURE FLUORINATION OF POLYMERS

The formation of free radicals in the process of direct fluorination o f natural and synthetic polymers at temperatures close to 77 K was stu died by ESR. The maximum concentrations of radicals (10(17)-5 . 10(18) spin g(-1)) and their complete oxidation were observed in the tempera ture interval from 77 to 250 K at a fluorine pressure of 30 Torr. The initiation of chain halogenation, which consists of homolytic breaking of chemical bonds to yield free-radical intermediates, was examined i n the framework of the multi-center synchronous transitions model.