A Study of the Oxidation of Two Aromatic Polyimide Fluoropolymers Containing Phenylphosphine Oxide by a Water Plasma and γ-Radiolysis in Air

Abstract

The oxidation of two fluorinated polyimides containing phenylphosphine oxide units, TOR-RC and TOR-RC ODPA, have been studied at 300 K for treatment by a water plasma and γ-radiolysis in air. The changes in the O 1s/C 1s ratios obtained from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that for exposure to the water plasma the ratio increases at short exposure times and then levels to a constant value. Evidence for the formation of phosphate species was also obtained from the XPS analyses. Similar observations were made for γ-radiolysis of the polymers in air. The polymers containing phenylphosphine oxide were found to be more resistant to oxidation in the water plasma than Kapton®. Radiolysis of the polymers in air to high doses were also accompanied by a red shift in the visible absorption spectra.

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