Polymers of hexafluoropropylene epoxide

摘要

The invention comprises a polymer of hexa-fluoropropylene epoxide of the formula:- wherein X is a carboxyl, an esterified or a neutralized carboxyl, an amido or a -COY group, Y being halogen. The polymer may be prepared by polymerizing hexa-fluoro propylene epoxide using as an initiator activated charcoal or high energy, particulate, radiation between -80 DEG and 140 DEG C. and a pressure of 0,1-5,000 atmospheres. A Van de Graaf generator, a linear accelerator or a radio-active element may be used as the source of high energy particles. In Example X the acid fluoride end group of the polymer is converted to the free acid by dissolving the polymer in dodecafluorodimethyl-cyclobutane, adding water and distilling the organic layer. The polymers may be used as lubricants and hydraulic fluids while the salt and ester forms of the polymer may be used as dispersing agents and solvents respectively.ALSO:The invention comprises compounds of the formula and wherein X is fluorine, or a hydroxyl, amino or methoxy radical and Y is fluorine, or a hydroxyl or methoxy radical. The fluorides may be prepared by contacting hexafluoropropylene epoxide with an initiator which is activated charcoal or high energy, particulate, ionising radiation between -80 and 140 DEG C., and a pressure between 0.1 and 5000 atmospheres. The methyl esters may be prepared by treating the di- and tri-mer with methanol while the acids may be produced by dissolving the fluorides in dodecafluorodimethylcyclobutane, adding water and distilling the organic layer. By treating the dimer with ice and ammonium hydroxide the amide may be prepared. The radiation source may be a Van de Graaf generator, a resonance cavity accelerator, a betatron, or a cyclotron such that the particles are accelerated to 100,000 and 10,000,000 electron volts and that the radiation dose applied to the epoxide is at least 1 x 103 watt seconds cm-2. A radio-active element undergoing nuclear fission in an atomic pile may be used as a source of high energy particles.