Radiolysis of Carbon Tetrafluoride by ⁶⁰Co Gamma Photons or by Recoiling Fission Fragments

The radiolysis of CF₄, alone and mixed with UF₆, UF₆ + N₂, UF₆ + Ar, UF₆ + Xe, UF₆ + SF₆, and UF₄ + C by gamma photons from ⁶⁰Co or by fission fragments from ²³⁵U gave C₂F₄ as the principal product. Traces of C₂F₆O and C₃F₃O were also found. In the gamma irradiation of CF₄ + UF₄ + C, charcoal acted as a fluorine scavenger and increased the consumption of CF₄, but N₂, Ar, Xe, and SF₆ showed no measurable scavenging effects. During the fission fragment irradiations, C, N₂, and Xe acted as scavengers, but such action by Ar or SF₆ was not detected. The results for ⁶⁰Co gamma irradiations and for fission fragment irradiations could be explained by a dynamic interconversion between CF₄ and the products C₂F₄ and F₂. A mathematical model that related the extent of interconversion with energy deposition was formulated.