Abstract
Attempts to polymerize hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (PNCl2)3 by high-energy irradiation methods in the solid state have failed to give a significant amount of the polymer. We report here that (PNCl2)3 crystals can be polymerized quite easily when exposed to a low-pressure radio-frequency plasma. The polymerization takes place almost simultaneously with the plasma-exposure. The monomer conversion increases with the plasma power as well as plasma-duration. The product is a white, rubber-like material having a similar appearance to the elastomer obtained by thermal polymerization. The IR spectrum shows the same backbone structure as that obtained by thermal polymerization. It has also been found that post-polymerization takes place at elevated temperatures following a brief exposure (1–5 min) of plasma onto phosphazene crystals.
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Osada, Y., Hashidzume, M., Tsuchida, E. et al. Polymerization of phosphazene crystal by plasma-exposure. Nature 286, 693–694 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/286693a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/286693a0
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