Electron Microscope Examination of the Microphysical Properties of the Polymer Cuprene

Abstract

The microphysical structure of cuprene is described from electron micrographs and some suggestions are made concerning the mechanism of the formation of this substance. Cuprene samples prepared by polymerization of acetylene in the presence of finely divided cuprous oxide are shown to be composed of hollow fibers characterized by both longitudinal and transverse structure. The striking appearance in electron micrographs of this type of cuprene serves to identify it in clogging deposits taken from acetylene lines. This is illustrated by a deposit taken from a reactor used in the process of hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene. Cuprene specimens formed by alpha‐ray bombardment of acetylene gas are shown to be composed of round particles joined by short, straight, thick necks which are about 500 to 1000A in length. These are samples of cuprene which have been bombarded further by alpha‐particles after their initial formation. An oxidized sample has round particles of mean diameter 4900A; an unoxidized sample has a mean diameter of 3800A for the round particles. There is evidence to suggest that alpha‐ray cuprene is liquid in nature. The two types of cuprene are so different physically that a change in nomenclature is in order.