Effect of temperature on the gamma-radiolysis of poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoromethyl vinyl ether)

The effect of irradiation temperature on the polymer properties was investi gated for the fluoroelastomer poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoromethylvi nyl ether) (TFE/PMVE). TFE/PMVE samples were gamma-irradiated to 150 kGy at temperatures ranging from 77 K to 373 K. Analysis of the sol/gel behaviour , tensile properties, and glass transition temperatures indicated that cros slinking commenced in the temperature range 195 to 263 K, for a dose of 150 kGy. The latter temperature was 13 K below the glass transition temperatur e. Crosslinking remained relatively constant to higher temperatures. Chain scission reactions were found to occur well below the glass transition temp erature and increased at higher temperatures. The optimum temperature for t he radiation crosslinking of TFE/PMVE, for the temperatures investigated, w as 263 K. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.