Radiation-induced grafting of perfluorinated vinyl ether into fluorinated polymer films

Zhai, M.; Hasegawa, Shin; Chen, J.; Maekawa, Yasunari

We report herein the first successful grafting of perfluorinated vinyl ether monomer into base polymer films by simultaneous radiation method. 2-Bromotetrafluoroethyl trifluorovinyl ether (BrTFF) could be grafted into poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films by -rays irradiation at room temperature. The grafting yield increased linearly with an increase in the dose up to 1400 kGy. The required dose for a satisfactory grafting yield, such as 20%, was as high as ca. 400 kGy probably due to low polymerization reactivity of fluorinated monomers. The thermal analysis of the grafted films indicated no phase separation between poly (BrTFF) grafts and ETFE films, probably owing to high compatibility of the fluorinated grafts and base polymers.