| Abstract: | Tetrafluoroethene (TFE)–chlorotrifluoroethene (CTFE) and TFE–bromotrifluoroethene (BTFE) copolymers have been synthesized by solution copolymerization over the entire range of comonomer composition. Crystallinity data are reported and first- and second-order transitions have been investigated by DSC. Glass transition temperatures of TFE-CTFE copolymers vary in a nonlinear fashion in the range defined by the homopolymers conforming best to the Johnston equation; the behavior in the TFE-BTFE system is more linear. Whereas TFE-BTFE copolymers show a steep decrease of melting temperature at higher BTFE content, due to the amorphous character of the polymers, more regular behavior was found for TFE-CTFE copolymers. Enthalpies of fusion are also reported. The results are discussed in relation to copolymer composition and structure and are compared with data on tetrafluoroethene–hexafluoropropene (FEP) fluorocarbon resins. |
