Self-emulsifying polymerization (SEP) of 3,6-dioxa-Δ7-4-trifluoromethyl perfluorooctyl trifluoromethyl sulfonimide with tetrafluoroethylene

The copolymerization of an insoluble gaseous monomer with a soluble monomer that behaves as its own surfactant is described. This process is called self-emulsifying polymerization (SEP). A variety of sulfonamide monomers can be used in SEP, but current work has focused on copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene with 3,6-dioxa-Δ7-4-trifluoromethyl perfluorooctyl trifluoromethyl sulfonimide 1. 19F NMR was used to determine the critical micelle concentration of the sodium salt of the monomer 1 for the SEP with tetrafluoroethylene.