A study of the oxidation of two aromatic polyimide fluoropolymers containing phenylphosphine oxide by a water plasma and gamma-radiolysis in air

The oxidation of two fluorinated polyimides containing phenylphosphine oxid e units, TOR-RC and TOR-RC ODPA, have been studied at 300 K for treatment b y a water plasma and gamma -radiolysis in air. The changes in the O 1s/C 1s ratios obtained from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showe d that for exposure to the water plasma the ratio increases at short exposu re times and then levels to a constant value. Evidence for the formation of phosphate species was also obtained from the XPS analyses. Similar observa tions were made for gamma -radiolysis of the polymers in air. The polymers containing phenylphosphine oxide were found to be more resistant to oxidati on in the water plasma than Kapton(R). Radiolysis of the polymers in air to high doses were also accompanied by a red shift in the visible absorption spectra.