IRRADIATION OF POLYETHYLENE. IV. OXIDATION EFFECTS

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1959 · Journal of Physical Chemistry (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j150576a015· OSTI ID:4255025

Matsuo, H; Dole, M

The radiolytic oxidation of a linear polyethylene has been studied by measuring changes in total pressure, by observing increases in optical density in the infrared due to carbonyl absorbance, and by analyzing gaseous products of oxidation when polgethylene film of different thicknesses was exposed to gamma radiation in the initial presence of a few centimeters pressure of oxygen. A steady rate of oxidation was soon established, making valid the use of a solution of the differential equation combining both diffusion and reaction for the steady state. About one fourth of the combined oxygen appeared as carbonyl and one eighth as water., Another eighth of the oxygen formed a mixture of carbon monoxide and dioxide. The rest of the oxygen must have formed mostly peroxides and alcohols. Product yields were linear with amount of oxygen consumed whether Wring the irradiation or in the dark period subsequent to the irradiation. Hydrogen gas evolution and growth, and decay of unsaturation apparently were unaffected by the presence of oxygen, but the dose required to reach the gel point was increased. Chemical mechanisms are discussed. (auth)

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ., Evanston, Ill.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-13-016047
• OSTI ID: 4255025
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry (U.S.), Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 63; ISSN JPCHA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALCOHOLS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBONYLS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECAY
DECOMPOSITION
DIFFUSION
EFFICIENCY
FILMS
GAMMA RADIATION
GASES
HYDROGEN
INFRARED RADIATION
IRRADIATION
MIXING
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN
PEROXIDES
POLYETHYLENES
PRESSURE
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIOLYSIS
SOLUTIONS
THICKNESS
WATER