Aqueous solution redox reaction with sulfite

Polymerization. Copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) and the nitrile (1-4 mole ) have been prepared batch-wise in a stirred autoclave using an aqueous ammonium persulfate or ammonium persulfate-sodium sulfite redox couple system at 40°-100° C. The TFE/PMVE gas mixture was pressured, as required, to maintain the pressure and the nitrile pumped in solution in trichlorotrifluoro-ethane. After completion of the reaction, polymer was isolated from the latex (25-30 solids) by coagulation using ethanol and aqueous magnesium chloride solution. It was washed with alcohol/water solutions and dried at 70 °C in an oven under nitrogen. Mass balance indicated that most of the nitrile had been incorporated. 

---