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.