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 MDDC - 818 
 
 UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION 
 
 POLYMERIZED TRIFLUOROCHLOROETHYLENE 
 
 Plax Corporation 
 
 This document consists of 1 page. 
 Date Declassified: March 27, 1947 
 
 This document is for official use. 
 
 Its issuance does not constitute authority 
 
 for declassification of classified copies 
 
 of the same or similar content and title 
 
 and by the same author(s) 
 
 
 Technical Information Division, Oak Ridge Directed Operations 
 Oak Ridge, Tennessee 
 
POLYMERIZED TRIFLUOROCHLOROETHYLENE 
 
 A high polymer of trifluorochloroethylene was produced for Manhattan Project uses. This mate- 
 rial was a chemically inert high temperature thermoplastic which could be pressed into sheets by 
 flowing out under pressure and otherwise fabricated by conventional methods including continuous 
 extrusion at from 250° to 300°C. The pressed material was a tough high impact strength solid, elas- 
 tic under stress, which could be readily machined to small tolerances. 
 
 The physical properties of the polymer could be usefully varied by different cooling cycles from 
 the molding temperature. Slow cooling induced crystallization and the development of a frosty or 
 milky appearance. Rapid cooling or quenching on the other hand produced transparent sheet material. 
 The slow cooled material was harder, somewhat more brittle as compared with the quenched mate- 
 rial, and less easily elongated by stretching. 
 
 The general physical properties of the polymer may be summarized as follows. The density 
 varied from 2.11 for quenched material to 2.13 for a slow cooled sample. The index of refraction was 
 1.43. The specific resistance at room temperature was determined as 5 x 10 17 ohms. The ultimate 
 tensile strength based on final cross section after some elongation varied from about 8 to 10 x 10 3 
 psi. The surface hardness varied from about 7 to 12 expressed as Vickers hardness numbers depend- 
 ing upon the heat treatment. 
 
 The polymer was not appreciably swelled by aliphatic hydrocarbon or hydroxyl containing type 
 solvents at 45°C, but absorbed appreciable quantities of low molecular weight chloro and chlorofluoro 
 solvents. Swelling occurred without solution. The polymer was not wet by water or effected by any 
 aqueous solution of reagents as, for example, concentrated bases, acids or oxidizing reagents. The 
 only type reaction observed at below cracking temperatures with the solid polymer was reaction on 
 heating with active metals such as sodium to produce carbon and metal halide. 
 
 The properties of the polymer are such that it can be used as gaskets, valve seats, transparent, 
 windows, tubing and other apparatus for chemical use, insulators and supports for electrical equip- 
 ment, etc., where properties of extreme chemical inertness, freedom from moisture uptake combined 
 with ease of fabrication were desired. 
 
 MDDC - 818 [1 
 

 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 
 
 3 1262 08910 9747