ESCA applied to polymers. XXVI. Investigation of a series of aliphatic, aromatic, and fluorine-containing polycarbonates

The absolute and relative binding energies for the C1s, O1s, and F1s core levels have been determined using x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA) for a series of aliphatic, aromatic, and fluorine‐containing polycarbonates. Comparisons of these experimentally determined, core‐level binding energies with theoretical calculations using the ground‐state potential model in the CNDO/2 SCF MO formalism as well as model compounds have been made on the C1s and O1s core levels. The degree of polymerization for low‐molecular‐weight fluorine‐containing polycarbonates, as determined from ESCA measurements, is compared to measurements by vapor‐phase osmometry and 19F‐NMR.