Polymerization and copolymerization studies on vinyl fluoride

The polymerization of vinyl fluoride has been studied in the temperature range of 0–50°C. with the aid of different types of initiators. Ziegler‐Natta systems based on vanadyl acetylacetonate and AIR(OR)Cl compounds showed good activity. Enhanced reaction rates and higher polymerization degrees were achieved with boron alkyls (and, to a lesser degree, Cd, Zn, and Be alkyls) activated by oxygen. With either types of initiator, the main features and the kinetic parameters of the polymerization were determined. In all cases, the polymerization is considered to be of the free‐radical type, though some properties (crystallinity, melting temperature) of the polymer are shown to be markedly improved over the previously described high‐pressure polymer. This is chiefly ascribed to an improved degree of chemical regularity of the chains. The copolymerization of vinyl fluoride in the presence of the cited initiators was studied with a number of monomers. The values of the copolymerization parameters allow us to obtain Q (0.010 ± 0.005) and e (−0.8±0.2) values and to discuss the reactivity of vinyl fluoride in radical chain propagation.