Structure of fluoropolymer products prepared from solutions of tetrafluoroethylene telomers

Abstract

The molecular and morphological structures of fluoropolymer products obtained by deposition of tetrafluoroethylene telomers from acetone solutions on substrates have been studied by IR and NMR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The molecular structure of the basic element of the sample is similar to that of PTFE, even though this element is composed of shorter chains carrying CH3-C=O-CH2 end groups. The supramolecular structure of the sample differs from that of PTFE by the character of disorder and a lower degree of crystallinity. Coatings obtained from solutions of tetrafluoroethylene telomers are of the island pattern with strongly overlapped regions.