The use of crosslinking promoters in the gamma-radiolysis of poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoromethylvinyl ether). I

Incorporation of 1 wt % of triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) significantly enhan ced the radiation crosslinking of the perfluoroelastomer, poly(tetrafluoroe thylene-co-perfluoromethylvinyl ether) (TFE/PMVE). The dose for gelation wa s lowered by 70% with the presence of TAIC. The additive also improved the tensile properties of TFE/ PMVE both before and after crosslinking by irrad iation. Higher radical yields were obtained with the presence of TAIC at 77 K, indicating the crosslinking promoter was acting as a radical trap. ESR studies showed that radiolysis of TAIC and subsequent photobleaching cleave d an allyl branch from the ring structure. Upon thermal annealing, an allyl radical on the TAIC molecule was observed. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc .