Tetrafluoroethylene, polymerization

Teflon is made by polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in aqueous suspension. 

Granular PTFE resins are produced by polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene alone or with a trace of comonomers [19,20] with initiator and sometimes in the presence of an alkaline buffer in aqueous suspension medium. The product from the autoclave can consist of a mixture of water with particles of polymer of variable size and irregular shape. After the water is removed from the mixture, the polymer is dried. 

From the information given in the chapter, suggest up to six solvents (systems) that would allow the electrochemical oxidation of complex organics such as polymerized isoprene (rubber) or even Teflon (polymerized tetrafluoroethylene) at less than 373 K. 

The polymer may be represented as CH3(CH2—CH2) CH3, where n is approximately 400. Polyethylene is a tough, flexible plastic. It is widely used as an electrical insulator and for the fabrication of such items as unbreakable refrigerator dishes, plastic cups, and squeeze bottles. Polypropylene is made by polymerizing propylene, CH3—CH=CH2, in much the same way. Teflon is made by polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in a similar reaction. 

Figure 4.1 R. j. Plunkett (right) with a cut cylinder of polymerized tetrafluoroethylene (courtesy of the Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE, USA).

Properties. Tetrafluoroethylene (mol wt 100.02) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, nontoxic gas (Table 1). It is stored as a Hquid vapor pressure at —20° C = 1 MPa (9.9 atm). It is usually polymerized above its critical temperature and below its critical pressure. The polymerization reaction is highly exothermic. 

Tetrafluoroethylene undergoes addition reactions typical of an olefin. It bums in air to form carbon tetrafluoride, carbonyl fluoride, and carbon dioxide (24). Under controlled conditions, oxygenation produces an epoxide (25) or an explosive polymeric peroxide (24). Trifluorovinyl ethers,... 

Tetrafluoroethylene of purity suitable for granular or dispersion polymerizations is acceptable for copolymerization with ethylene. Polymerization-grade ethylene is suitable for copolymerization with tetrafluoroethylene. Modifying termonomers, eg, perfluorobutylethylene and perfluoropropylene, are incorporated by free-radical polymerization. 

Copolymerization is effected by suspension or emulsion techniques under such conditions that tetrafluoroethylene, but not ethylene, may homopolymerize. Bulk polymerization is not commercially feasible, because of heat-transfer limitations and explosion hazard of the comonomer mixture. Polymerizations typically take place below 100°C and 5 MPa (50 atm). Initiators include peroxides, redox systems (10), free-radical sources (11), and ionizing radiation (12). 

Free radical polymerization is a key method used by the polymer industry to produce a wide range of polymers [37]. It is used for the addition polymerization of vinyl monomers including styrene, vinyl acetate, tetrafluoroethylene, methacrylates, acrylates, (meth)acrylonitrile, (meth)acrylamides, etc. in bulk, solution, and aqueous processes. The chemistry is easy to exploit and is tolerant to many functional groups and impurities. 

This compound is used as a refrigerant and as an aerosol propellent. It is also used to synthesize tetrafluoroethylene, which is polymerized to a heat resistant polymer (Teflon) ... 

When the tetrafluoroethylene molecule polymerizes, its poly-tetrafluoroethylene, more commonly known as Teflon. 

In solution polymerization, monomers mix and react while dissolved in a suitable solvent or a liquid monomer under high pressure (as in the case of the manufacture of polypropylene). The solvent dilutes the monomers which helps control the polymerization rate through concentration effects. The solvent also acts as a heat sink and heat transfer agent which helps cool the locale in which polymerization occurs. A drawback to solution processes is that the solvent can sometimes be incorporated into the growing chain if it participates in a chain transfer reaction. Polymer engineers optimize the solvent to avoid this effect. An example of a polymer made via solution polymerization is poly(tetrafluoroethylene), which is better knoivn by its trade name Teflon . This commonly used commercial polymer utilizes water as the solvent during the polymerization process,... 

Accidental admixture of oxygen gas with unstabilised liquid tetrafluoroethylene produced a polymeric peroxide which was powerfully explosive, and sensitive to heat, impact or friction [1], Removal of oxygen by treatment with pyrophoric copper to prevent explosion of tetrafluoroethylene has been claimed [2],... 

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