Influence of pH to Increase Grafting Degree into Fluoropolymers

Abstract

Poly(ethylene-alt-tetra-fluoroethylene (ETFE) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene-cohexafluoropropylene) (FEP) were pre-irradiated under air using a Co60 gamma source to graft styrene at low pH. Grafting copolymers were tuned by study of different parameters (monomer, reaction time, temperature, and pH with addition of sulfuric acid (H2SO4)). The maximum degree of grafting was 80% and 40% for ETFE and FEP respectively at dose 2 kGy. Influence of low pH in grafting degree by adding sulfuric acid was studied. Grafting degree was examined by infrared (FTIR-ATR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and swelling behavior analysis after sulfonation process.