Structures of polytetrafluoroethylene oligomers as studied by high-resolution solid-state 19F NMR and their properties

High-resolution 19F MAS NMR spectra of polytetrafluorotheylene (PTFE) oligomers in the solid state were measured. On the basis of the obtained spectra, their structural analyses were successfully made. It was found that PTFE oligomers obtained by reaction of high molecular weight PTFE with fluorine gas at high temperature have CF3 groups and branched groups. Further, it was found that the existence of these groups in PTFE oligomers significantly affects the surface energy of the polymer, which leads to a variety of properties.