Electron Spin Resonance Studies of Irradiated Teflon: Effects of Various Gases

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Abstract
The radical produced by x‐ or γ‐irradiation of polyfluoroethylene (Teflon) in a high vacuum is shown to have five F atoms with nuclear coupling to the electron spin, four with equivalent coupling of 33 gauss each and a fifth with coupling of 92 gauss. The radical is probably of the form XCF2CFCF2Y, where X and Y represent the continuing Teflon chains with no significant electron spin density. Molecular oxygen was found to combine with undetectable radicals or ions in the irradiated Teflon to produce a new resonance. Carbon monoxide alters the latter resonance to a different one while H2, NO, and ionized air destroy it. The resonance of the fluorocarbon radical is also nullified by H2 and NO. When Teflon is irradiated under an atmosphere of NO gas, a triplet resonance structure apparently arising from N14 nuclear interaction is produced. The triplet can also be produced by admission of NO to a sample of Teflon previously irradiated in a vacuum.