Molecular-topology of powder of the γ-irradiated tetrafluoroethylene/ethylene copolymer

The molecular-topological structure of gamma-irradiated commercial copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene with ethylene (CTE) were explored in the coaxial mode, which has the vectors of CTE loading and compression pressure in the same plane, and in the perpendicular mode with the two vectors perpendicular to each other. Instead of the amorphous-crystal structure observed with the coaxial orientation of the vectors, the CTEs are completely amorphous in their perpendicular orientation. Radiolysis with a dose of 140 kGy leads to the formation of a crosslinked structure for the CTEs. On irradiation, the crystals are transformed to an amorphous state and CTE can form a fully amorphous structure after 600 kGy of irradiation.