- Author
-
Paabo, M.
|
Comeford, J. J.
- Title
- Flash Pyrolysis of Polytetrafluoroethylene.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
NBS 10 691
January 17, 1972
8 p.
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM: National Archives, Civilian Records, Room 2800, 8601 Adelphia Road, College, Park, MD 20740-6001, Telephone: 301-713-7230
- Contract
- NBS-PROJECT-4219223
- Keywords
-
teflon; flash pyrolysis
- Abstract
- Polytetrafluoroethylene was thermally decomposed using high energy fluxes from a molecular gas laser emitting energy at 10.6 um for exposure times of up to 1.5 minutes. Two modes of decomposition were noted as evidenced by a change in stable decomposition products as determined by gas chromatography. Nine different low molecular weight (four or less carbon atoms) fluorocarbons have been detected. In vacuo the primary reaction is depolymerization to the monomer, C2F4. In nitrogen and helium atmospheres chain rupture is more complete to yield significant amounts of carbon and fluorcarbons CF4, C3F6, C2F6. Decomposition in nitrogen atmospheres and to a lesser extent in helium is accompanied by a stream of incandesant carbon emitting radiation in the visible region of the spectrum. It is postulated that in nitrogen atmospheres higher temperatures result with the formation of significant amounts of trifluoromethyl radical.