Copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene in fluorinated organic solvents

Copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene was investigated in trichlorotrifluoroethane and trichlorofluoromethane solvents. The high solubility of the monomers in these solvents made polymerization under reduced pressures possible. Trichlorofluoromethane acted as an effective chain transfer agent to regulate the molecular weight. Kinetic studies showed that bimolecular and unimolecular termination prevailed at low and high polymer concentrations, respectively.