the present invention is a free - radical carbon - frts - carbon crosslinkable polymeric composition . the resulting carbon - frts - carbon crosslinked polymer is prepared from at least one polymer which upon forming free radicals preferentially degrades or carbon - carbon crosslinks . the present invention permits suppression of the preferential reaction while permitting the polymer to be carbon - frts - carbon crosslinked through a free - radical trapping species . suppressing the undesirable degradation or carbon - carbon crosslinking reaction and permitting the desirable carbon - frts - carbon crosslinking reaction yield a uniquely crosslinked polymer .