Crosslinking and scission yields for polystyrene subjected to. gamma. irradiation in vacuo

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.1979.170171227· OSTI ID:5660977

O'Donnell, J H ^[1]; Rahman, N P; Smith, C A; Winzor, D J

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1. Univ. of Queensland, Brisbane

Measurements of molecular weight averages and distributions have been made on three samples of narrow molecular size distribution polystyrene with molecular weights from 100,000 to 400,000 subjected to /sup 60/Co ..gamma.. irradiation in vacuo for various doses within the pregel region. G(X), the radiation chemical yield of crosslinking, has been determined as 0.043 +- 0.002 and G(S)/G(X), the ratio of scission to crosslinking, as 0.02; no effect of molecular weight was observed. By comparison with previous experimental results for polystyrene irradiated in air it has been established unequivocally that an oxygen environment leads to enhanced scission at the expense of crosslinking. Literature values of G(X) and G(S)/G(X) are reviewed in the light of these results and explanations are offered to account for major discrepancies. 3 figures, 2 tables.

• OSTI ID: 5660977
• Journal Information: J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 17:12; ISSN JPLCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360403 -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Mechanical Properties-- (-1987)
360406* -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Radiation Effects-- (-1987)
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CROSS-LINKING
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
G VALUE
GAMMA RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYSTYRENE
POLYVINYLS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS