Temperature-induced transformations of peroxide radicals formed in polytetrafluoroethylene with γ-ray irradiation

At 200°C, temperature-induced transformations of peroxide radicals from ? CF₂CF(OO·)CF₂? (radical I) to ? CF₂CFCF₂? (radical 1) and ? CF₂CF₂OO· (radical II) to ? CF₂CF₂ (radical 2) in vacuo, and from I to II in oxygen atmosphere were observed. In these thermal transformations, the evolution of CO₂ with a small amount of CO and CF₂O was observed. Further, measurements of the heat of crystallization of the treated polytetrafluoroethylene suggest that a reduction of polymer molecular weight occurs during the transformations from I to 1 and I to II.