A method for producing a fluoropolymer, which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a polymer (1), the polymer (1) including a polymerized unit derived from a monomer CX.sub.2═CY(—CZ.sub.2—O—Rf-A), wherein X is the same or different and is —H or —F; Y is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; Z is the same or different and is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluoroalkyl group; Rf is a C1-C40 fluorine-containing alkylene group or a C—C100 fluorine-containing alkylene group and having an ether bond; and A is —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, or —OSO.sub.3M, wherein M is —H, a metal atom, —NR.sup.7.sub.4, imidazolium optionally having a substituent, pyridinium optionally having a substituent, or phosphonium optionally having a substituent, wherein R.sup.7 is H or an organic group, providing that at least one of X, Y, and Z contains a fluorine atom.

A polytetrafluoroethylene tube is provided and has a thickness of 0.1 mm or less, a tensile elongation at break of 350% or more, and a melting energy of 0.6 J/g or more which is calculated from an endothermic peak at 370° C.±5° C. in a procedure of increasing a temperature in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

A method for producing polytetrafluoroethylene, which includes polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in an aqueous medium in the presence of a nucleating agent and a hydrocarbon anionic surfactant to obtain polytetrafluoroethylene. A total amount of the nucleating agent and the hydrocarbon anionic surfactant at the initiation of polymerization is more than 50 ppm based on the aqueous medium.

A method for producing polytetrafluoroethylene, which includes polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in an aqueous medium in the presence of a nucleating agent and a hydrocarbon anionic surfactant to obtain polytetrafluoroethylene. A total amount of the nucleating agent and the hydrocarbon anionic surfactant at the initiation of polymerization is more than 50 ppm based on the aqueous medium.

Provided is a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene which is less likely to generate C6-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids and salts thereof. The disclosure relates to a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene having a melt viscosity at 380° C. of 1.0×10.sup.2 to 7.0×10.sup.5 Pa.Math.s. The method includes (1) irradiating high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene with radiation in a substantially oxygen-free state and decomposing the high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene into a low-molecular-weight component and (2) deactivating, in a substantially oxygen-free state, at least part of main-chain radicals and end radicals generated by the irradiation and providing the low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene.

Provided is a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene which is less likely to generate C6-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids and salts thereof. The disclosure relates to a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene having a melt viscosity at 380° C. of 1.0×10.sup.2 to 7.0×10.sup.5 Pa.Math.s. The method includes (1) irradiating high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene with radiation in a substantially oxygen-free state and decomposing the high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene into a low-molecular-weight component and (2) deactivating, in a substantially oxygen-free state, at least part of main-chain radicals and end radicals generated by the irradiation and providing the low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene.

Provided is a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene which is less likely to generate C6-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids and salts thereof. The disclosure relates to a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene having a melt viscosity at 380° C. of 1.0×10.sup.2 to 7.0×10.sup.5 Pa.Math.s. The method includes (1) irradiating high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene with radiation in a substantially oxygen-free state and decomposing the high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene into a low-molecular-weight component and (2) deactivating, in a substantially oxygen-free state, at least part of main-chain radicals and end radicals generated by the irradiation and providing the low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene.

Provided is a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene which is less likely to generate C6-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids and salts thereof. The disclosure relates to a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene having a melt viscosity at 380° C. of 1.0×10.sup.2 to 7.0×10.sup.5 Pa.Math.s. The method includes (1) irradiating high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene with radiation in a substantially oxygen-free state and decomposing the high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene into a low-molecular-weight component and (2) deactivating, in a substantially oxygen-free state, at least part of main-chain radicals and end radicals generated by the irradiation and providing the low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene.

Provided is a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene which is less likely to generate C6-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids and salts thereof. The disclosure relates to a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene having a melt viscosity at 380° C. of 1.0×10.sup.2 to 7.0×10.sup.5 Pa.Math.s. The method includes (1) irradiating high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene with radiation in a substantially oxygen-free state and decomposing the high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene into a low-molecular-weight component and (2) deactivating, in a substantially oxygen-free state, at least part of main-chain radicals and end radicals generated by the irradiation and providing the low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene.

Provided is a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene which is less likely to generate C6-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids and salts thereof. The disclosure relates to a method for producing low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene having a melt viscosity at 380° C. of 1.0×10.sup.2 to 7.0×10.sup.5 Pa.Math.s. The method includes (1) irradiating high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene with radiation in a substantially oxygen-free state and decomposing the high-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene into a low-molecular-weight component and (2) deactivating, in a substantially oxygen-free state, at least part of main-chain radicals and end radicals generated by the irradiation and providing the low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene.