Electron beam-induced decomposition of graphite fluoride

Irradiation of graphite fluoride with electron beams has been carried out on a electron probe microanalyzer. Radiation-induced decomposition took place predominantly instead of thermal decomposition. The decomposition tended to occur in the following order: powdery (CF)_n, white flaky (CF)_n, and (CF₂F)_n. The kinetics of the decomposition reaction induced by electron beams was evaluated by the ZAF correction of the measured intensities of F K- and C K-emission bands. It was found that the kinetic of the decomposition of graphite fluoride was of Avrami-Erofejev type; the rate equations were $\text{-}\text{ln}\text{(1?α)=kt}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ for (CF)_n and -ln(1?α)=kt² for (C₂F)_n. An application to the electron microbeam processing of graphite fluoride was suggested in relation to its unique physicochemical properties.