Functionalization of poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-ethylene) film by radiation-induced craft copolymerization

To introduce functional moieties to Tefzel film, a copolymer of tetrafluoro ethylene and ethylene, graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers such as acr ylonitrile (AN) and methacrylonitrile (MAN) was attempted by a preirradiati on method in aqueous medium. Optimum conditions for obtaining the maximum p ercentage of grafting have been evaluated for both monomers. Maximum grafti ng of AN (52.2%) and MAN (77.7%) is obtained at a total dose of 3.14 and 2. 69 x 10(4) Gy, respectively, using [AN] = 3.018 mol/L and [MAN] = 1.177 mol /L in 10 mL of water. The effect of aliphatic alcohols of varying chain len gth, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, and cyclohexanol, o n percentage add-on of AN and MAN has also been studied. It has been found that all the alcohols decreased the percentage of grafting. Characterizatio n of Tefzel and grafted Tefzel films has been carried out by IR spectroscop y and thermogravimetric analysis. Grafted Tefzel film has been found to hav e improved thermal resistance. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.