METHOD FOR PRODUCING TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE COPOLYMER AQUEOUS DISPERSION

To provide a method for producing a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer-containing aqueous dispersion excellent in stability against a mechanical stress. The method for producing an aqueous dispersion containing a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer is characterized by comprising a polymerization step of subjecting tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and a (perfluoroalkyl) ethylene to a polymerization reaction in an aqueous medium using a polymerization initiator in the presence of a fluorinated emulsifier, to obtain an aqueous emulsion having a solid content concentration of from 10 to 45 mass %, and a concentrating step of adding a nonionic surfactant represented by R1-O-A-H (R1 is a C8-18 alkyl group, and A is a polyoxyalkylene chain) to the aqueous emulsion, followed by concentration to a solid content concentration of from 50 to 70% to obtain an aqueous dispersion, wherein in the polymerization step, TFE is continuously or intermittently supplied to the polymerization reaction vessel, and a chain transfer agent is added at the time when from 10 to 95 mass % of the total mass of TFE to be used in the polymerization reaction has been supplied.