On the radiation-induced polyaddition of bisperfluoroisopropenyl terephthalate with 1,4-dioxane

Radical polyaddition of bis(α-trifluoromethyl-β,β-difluorovinyl)terephthalate [CF2C(CF3)OCOC6H4COOC(CF3)CF2] (BFP) with 1,4-dioxane (DOX) afforded higher molecular weight polymers under γ-rays radiation from a 60Co source when compared to those yielded by benzoyl peroxide initiation. More detailed study on the radiation-induced polyaddition of BFP with DOX and optimization of the reaction conditions were carried out. It was necessary to irradiate with doses of 2000, 1500, and 750 kGy, to obtain quantitative conversion of BFP at the feed molar ratios DOX/BFP of 8.0, 16, and 32, respectively. Step-growth polymerization mechanism was suggested by the measurements of molecular weights of the polymers obtained with several irradiation doses. It was concluded that the molecular weight of the polymer could be controlled by the feed molar ratio of DOX/BFP and irradiation doses. The steep increase of molecular weight was observed at the feed molar ratio of DOX/BFP of 8.0 with the irradiation doses above 2000 kGy and the polymer with the weight-average molecular weight of 2.36×104 was obtained with the dose of 3000 kGy. The reaction between polymers might take place after the quantitative conversion of BFP. Radiation-induced radical polyaddition mechanism of BFP with DOX was proposed.