Kinetics and mechanism of thermal polymerization of hexafluoropropylene under high pressures

The basic kinetic parameters of thermal polymerization of hexafluoropropylene, namely, general rate constants, degree of polymerization, and their temperature and pressure dependences in the range of 230–290 °C and 2–12 kbar (200–1200 MPa) were determined. The activation energy (E _act = 132±4 kJ mol⁻¹) and activation volume (ΔV ₀ ^≠ = −27±1 cm³ mol⁻¹) were calculated. The activation energy of thermal initiation of polymerization was estimated. The reaction scheme based on the assumption about a biradical mechanism of polymerization initiation was proposed.