Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Poly(Hexafluoropropylene Oxide) by Anionic Polymerization

Chain propagation and chain transfer in anionic polymerization of hexafluoropropylene oxide were investigated under various reaction conditions such as the stabilization of reaction temperature, the amount of hexafluoropropylene solvent, and the feeding rate of hexafluoropropylene oxide monomer. Anionic initiator for the polymerization was synthesized from cesium fluoride and hexafluoropropylene oxide in tetraethyleneglycol dimethylether. It was possible to obtain a high molecular weight poly(HFPO) ( 14800) using the anionic initiator in conditions of stabilized reaction temperature, and optimized addition of solvent and monomer feeding (HFP/initiator mole ratio=31.5 and HFPO feeding rate=11.67 g/hr). Otherwise, chain transfer reaction in anionic polymerization was increased. From the results of molecular weight in various reaction conditions, it was found that chain propagation and chain transfer in anionic polymerization of HFPO were very sensitive to reaction conditions.