Kinetics of radiation-induced carbonization of poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Abstract

The kinetics of radiation-induced carbonization of PVDF surfaces aiming at carbyne (one-dimensional carbon allotrope) synthesis have been studied. A sample of poly(vinylidene fluoride) film was exposed to Mg Ka radiation (Zu¼ 1253.6 eV) in an ESCALAB Mk II spectrometer for 14 h with the aim of surface carbonization. Some 221 spectra of C 1s electrons were measured and expanded using 7 Gaussian curves to reveal and identify species being created on the film surface during its carbonization. A decrease in the content of CF2 groups, the emergence of CF species in two different states, and growth of a number of fluorine-free carbon atoms have been detected. Simultaneous variations of CH/CH2, CF and CF2 peaks suggest elimination of H and F atoms as HF. A proposed model shows three probabilistic factors affecting the rate of degradation, one of which remains uncertain.