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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

A STUDY OF THE MECHANISM OF RADIATION-INDUCED GELATION IN MONOMER-POLYMER MIXTURES. Summart Report, May 1, 1961-April 30, 1962

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4804394

The effects of polyfunctional monomers on the efficiency of the radioinduced cross linking of polyethylene were studied. The efficiency of any particular monomer was found to be dependent on the extent to which it swells the polymer and on its chemical structure. The dose required to produce a 50% gel content in polyethylene was found to be approximately 1.5 Mrads for the monomer cross linking technique using allyl methacrylate as compared to 11 Mrads for the straight radiation technique. The applicability of this method was also studied for polypropylene. The dose required for incipient gelation under straight radiation cross linking conditions was found to be mately 50 Mrads. Using allyl methacrylate, 70% gel was obtained after approximately 2 Mrads. Preliminary results showed that the use of polyfunctional monomers can change the direction of radiation effects on polyisobutylene. It was found that the use of 14% allyl acrylate yields a gel content of approximately 55% after 1 Mrad of radiation. Monomerfree polyisobutylene, not only does not give a gel at this dosage. but in addition, is actually degraded to lower molecular weight material. It was also found that the monomer cross linking technique is useful in increasing the efficiency of the radiation cross linking of polystyrene. (M.C.G.)

Research Organization:
Radiation Applications Inc., Long Island City, N.Y.
NSA Number:
NSA-16-025418
OSTI ID:
4804394
Report Number(s):
RAI-306
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English