Radiothermoluminescence sensitisation by dissolved oxygen in fluoropolymers

The intensity of radiothermoluminescence (RTL) flashes in polytetrafluoroet hylene (PTFE) and tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer (tradem ark FEP) depending on the oxygen pressure in the outer atmosphere (from 10( -4) to 720 Torr) shows that dissolved oxygen plays an important role in the RTL phenomenon in fluoropolymers. On the basis of the established "pressur e" dependence, it is proposed that physically adsorbed oxygen molecules can accumulate in defect regions of the polymer matrix and further interact wi th active centers that have escaped from the traps during heating of the po lymer samples, resulting in RTL flashes. It is concluded that RTL in fluoro polymers may be oxygen-induced chemiluminescence. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.