Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Chemical Structure, Crystalline Content and Molecular Weight Distribution of Various Teflon Resins.
Abstract
Changes in the chemical composition, crystalline content and structure, flow properties and molecular weight distribution in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) after exposure to ionizing radiation are described. The radiation used in this work was 0.8 MeV electrons. The effects of post-irradiation annealing on the chemical composition and crystalline content are also analyzed. Radiation-induced changes in the chemical composition and the role of oxygen and water vapor in these changes was determined by infrared spectroscopy of PTFE irradiated in ambient air, wet and dry oxygen atmosphere and under vacuum. It was found that when the irradiations are carried out in the presence of oxygen, acid fluoride endgroups are formed and that, upon exposure to water vapor, these endgroups undergo hydrolysis to form carboxylic acid endgroups. jg p14
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA303050
Entities
People
- William K. Fisher
Organizations
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute