Emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and propylene with redox system containing tert-butylperbenzoate. II. Polymerization mechanism

Emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and propylene (P) initiated by trilon-rongalite catalytic system containing tert-C₄H₉OH, initial monomer mixture, emulsifier (C₇F₁₅COONH₄) concentration, and monomer mixture/water ratio on the polymerization rate (R) and molecular weight (M?_n ) was investigated. Both R and M?_n increased considerably with TFE content in monomer mixture up to 75 mol %. Alternating rubber-like copolymers in a wide range of initial monomer mixture (from 55–85 mol %) were obtained. The reactivity ratio was found to be r_TFE = 0.005 ± 0.04 and r_p = 0.17 ± 0.07. Above the critical miscelle concentration, the effects of the initiating system Is and emulsifier Cs on R and M?_n were found to obey the following relations: according to which emulsion copolymerization proceeds by the I case of Smith-Ewart theory. Polymerization mechanism of the reaction studied was suggested. The copolymerization is mainly terminated by degradative chain transfer of the propagating radicals to propylene. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and propylene with redox system containing tert-butylperbenzoate. I. Polymerization conditions and components

Emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and propylene with ammonium perfluorooctanoate, initiated by a redox system containing tert-butylperbenzoate (TBPB) was carried out. The effect of the components of the redox system Is (TBPB, FeSO₄.7H₂O, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and CH₂(OH)SO₂Na.2H₂O) on the polymerization rate (R) and molecular weight () was studied. Among redox system components, Fe²⁺ concentration exerts the most significant effect (by power of 0.54) on the polymerization rate. It was found that R ∝ [Is]^0.2–0.54 and M_n ∝ [Is]^0.0–0.1 and polymerization reaction scheme was suggested for the action of the initiating system. The influence of the copolymerization conditions (pressure, temperature, stirring speed, and pH) is also discussed. The apparent activation energy of the reaction was found to be 46.0 kJ/mol. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structure and properties of some novel fluoroelastomer/clay nanocomposites with special reference to their interaction

In the present work, rubber/clay nanocomposites were prepared by a solution mixing process using fluoroelastomers and different nanoclays (namely, Cloisite NA+, Cloisite 10A, Cloisite 20A, and Cloisite 30B). Fluoroelastomers having different microstructure and viscosity (Viton B‐50, Viton B‐600, Viton A‐200, and VTR‐8550) were used. Characterization of the nanocomposites was done by using X‐ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties were studied. The surface energy of the clays and the elastomer was also measured. Even with the addition of only 4 phr of clay in Viton B‐50, tensile strength and modulus improved by 30–96% and 80–134%, respectively, depending on the nature of the nanoclays. Exfoliation was observed with both the unmodified and the modified clays at low loading in all the fluoroelastomers. Best properties were observed with the unmodified clay. All the grades of fluororubber followed the same trend. The increment (19%) in storage modulus was also higher in the case of the unmodified clay filled Viton B‐50 system. The results were explained with the help of thermodynamics, surface energies, and swelling studies. The difference in surface energy, Δγ, between the rubber and the unmodified clay was lower. The work of adhesion (67.63 mJ/m²) between Viton B‐50 and Cloisite NA+ was also higher than that (51.42 mJ/m²) between Viton B‐50 and Cloisite 20A. Negative ΔH_S value for the unmodified clay‐filled system thermodynamically favored the formation of the nanocomposite as compared to the modified clay filled samples where ΔH_S is positive or zero. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 162‐176, 2006     

Radiation induced terpolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene and n-butyl vinyl ether in bulk

Terpolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with propylene (P) and n-butyl vinyl ether (NBVE) induced by γ-rays at room temperature at dose rate 5 × 10⁵ rad/h and P/NBVE molar ratio from 49/1 to 10/40 was carried out. An alternating copolymerization between TFE and two α-olefins was found to take place in this system, so that 50 mole % of TFE containing terpolymer is always formed at various monomer compositions. The terpolymer composition can be explained successfully by the treatment by a complex mechanism. The complex reactivity ratios of r_I (TFE–complex) and r_II (TFE-NBVE complex) were calculated to be 0.5 and 0.6, respectively, assuming a complex mechanism. The polymerization rate and molecular weight increase with NBVE concentration in the monomer mixture. Colorless transparent rubber-like polymers were obtained at each monomer composition. The glass transition temperature sharply decreases with NBVE concentration in the terpolymer but the thermal and chemical resistances of the terpolymer slightly decrease. Considering these results together with the mechanical properties it has been concluded that the 45/48/7 terpolymer of TFE/P/NBVE molar ratio is good as a practical elastomer useful at relatively low temperatures.