Synthesis of fluoropolymer containing tunable unsaturation

Fluoropolymer with tunable unsaturation reacted via controlled dehydrochlorination of commercially available poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-co-CTFE)) under mild conditions, tertiary monoamines as catalyzer. The copolymers were characterized through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). It was shown that the elimination could be well controlled in N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), catalyzed by TEA. The factors of concentration, alkalinity and steric bulk of the catalysts, the polarity and capability to absorb HCl in solvents, and the reaction time and temperature influence the dehydrochlorination of P(VDF-co-CTFE). The fluoropolymer containing unsaturation is readily cured with peroxide, and the crosslinked fluoropolymer exhibits improved thermostability and solvent resistance. The breaking strength of crosslinked film increases from 2.7 MPa to 8.6 MPa, and the elongation at break increases from 305% to 1131%.