Preparation and thermal degradation of polyperfluorobut‐2‐yne

Polyperfluorobut‐2‐yne has been prepared by the fluoride ion‐catalyzed polymerization of hexafluorobut‐2‐yne. The thermal stability of the polymer was monitored by TGA and DTA in air, argon, and vacuum environments. The major breakdown route appears to be depolymerization into fragments of lower molecular weight. Copolymerization of the acetylene with fluoroolefins was attempted; however, homopolymerization of the acetylene occurred at a far greater rate than the copolymerization reaction.