Kinetics of interaction of tungsten metal with a fluoropolymer

The kinetics of the interaction of tungsten metal with a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and vinylidene difluoride (TFE–VDF) has been studied by mass spectrometry (MS), thermogravimetry (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Measurements were taken in a vacuum (MS) and in a dynamic argon atmosphere (DSC, TG) in temperature ranges of 550–585 K (MS) and 313–873 K (TG, DSC). The interaction of tungsten with the fluoropolymer is at least a two-stage process. Its kinetics is described by the Prout–Tompkins nth-order autocatalytic equation. It follows from the kinetic dependences and parameters obtained that the rate-limiting stage of the overall process is the formation of the highest tungsten fluoride WF6.