Chemically Altered Polytetrafluoroethylene for Enhanced Adhesion

This study presents a strategy to enhance the adhesion properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) by incorporating triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) as a comonomer during the polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), yielding chemically altered PTFE (ca-PTFE). While PTFE is renowned for its excellent chemical resistance, its inherently low interfacial reactivity limits its use in composite applications. TAIC, which decomposes at elevated temperatures to generate reactive isocyanate groups, is introduced to improve adhesion to other material surfaces. ca-PTFE was synthesized via emulsion polymerization as nanoparticles approximately 100 nm in diameter. When hot-pressed into films, the material exhibits a reduced modulus at higher temperatures, attributed to the thermal decomposition of isocyanurate cross-links into isocyanate moieties. Laminates of ca-PTFE and polyimide show significantly improved interfacial adhesion compared to those made with conventional PTFE or perfluoroalkoxy resin. This approach offers a promising route to developing PTFE-based materials with enhanced compatibility in composite systems.