Fluorocarbon waxes and process for producing them

Process for the manufacture of fluorocarbon waxes, having a mean molecular weight, determined by elementary analysis of terminal chlorine, bromine, or iodine atoms in relation to the fluorine, in the range of from 10,000 to 200,000, and an apparent melt viscosity of from 0.7 . 10.sup.2 to 1 . 10.sup.8 poises at 380.degree.C under 200 kg/cm.sup.2, by telomerization of tetrafluoroethylene or mixtures of tetrafluoroethylene with 0.1 to 40 mole % of at least one comonomer having the formula CH.sub.2 = CH.sub.2, CF.sub.2 = CFX, where X is H, CF.sub.3, Cl, Br, or I, or CF.sub.2 = CY.sub.2, where Y is H, Cl, Br or I, which comprises telomerizing without a coating agent at a temperature of from 0.degree. to 40.degree.C and a pressure of from 0 to 25 atmospheres gauge in the presence of from 0.1 to 15 % by weight, calculated on the monomer(s) used, of at least one telogen of the formula CH.sub.n Z.sub.4.sub.-n, CH.sub.3 I, C.sub.m F.sub.2m .sub.+ 1 I, CF.sub.2 I-CF.sub.2 I, or CFI.sub.2 -CF.sub.3, where n is zero or an integer of from 1 to 3, Z is Cl or Br and m is an integer of from 1 to 3, in aqueous weakly alkaline phase in the presence of initiators and emulsifiers known for the dispersion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene, while applying a specific stirring energy in the range of from 2.4 . 10.sup.-.sup.5 to 4.5 . 10.sup.-.sup.5 kg . m/sec/cc, to obtain a stable fluorocarbon wax dispersion, coagulating the said dispersion and drying the fluorocarbon wax obtained.