The Solubility of Tetrafluoroethylene/Hexafluoropropylene Copolymers

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Abstract
The copolymers of TFE (tetrafluoroethylene) and HFP (hexafluoropropylene) form stable solutions in perfluorocarbons at much lower temperatures than TFE homopolymer (PTFE). Most of the work has emphasized the use of fused, 6-membered ring, aliphatic perfluorocarbons as solvents. Polymer concentrations as high as 10% were obtained; much higher concentrations are possible. Widely different solubility characteristics were found for several perfluorocarbon solvents suggesting the feasibility of fractionation via extraction to determine comonomer and end group distribution.