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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
Gamma Irradiation of Fluorocarbon Polymers
Abstract:
Several fluorocarbon polymers were irradiated with Co60 gamma radiation at doses up to 1022 ev/g. The polymers studied included polytetrafluoroethylene, polytrifluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene with hexafluoropropylene, and several rubbery vinylidene fluoride copolymers. G-values were measured for volatile products, for free radicals detected by electron spin resonance, and, in the case of polychlorotrifluoroethylene, for scissions. The course of degradation or crosslinking was followed by zero-strength-time and tensile-strength measurements. It was found that for polytetrafluoroethylene and its hexafluoropropylene copolymer the presence of air-accelerated scission drastically. The mechanism of the radiation-induced changes is discussed in terms of free-radical intermediates.
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