Radiation‐induced copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene at low temperature

Abstract Radiation‐induced copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene was carried out at low temperature in the liquid phase. The resulting copolymers were found to range from viscous oils to rubberlike materials, depending on the polymerization conditions. It was observed that there are induction periods in these copolymerizations, and that the rate of copolymerization is proportional to the square root of the dose rate. Fluorine contents of the copolymers were determined, and the monomer reactivity ratios in the copolymerization were found to be rC3H6 = 1.0 and rC2F4 = 0.06. The viscosity of the copolymer was measured in tetrahydrofuran at 30°C. Infrared spectra of the copolymers were also measured. It was concluded from these experimental results that the copolymerization proceeds by a radical mechanism.