Fluorescence studies of the vacuum ultraviolet, synchrotron radiation induced photochemistry of polystyrene

Journal Article · Mon Jun 21 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Macromolecules; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ma00065a003· OSTI ID:6467986

Simons, J K ^[1]; Chen, J M ^[2]; Taylor, J W ^[3]; Rosenberg, R A ^[4]

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1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Synchrotron Radiation Center and the Dept. of Chemistry
2. Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu (Taiwan, Province of China)
3. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
4. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source

The synchrotron radiation (SR) induced, vacuum ultraviolet (vacuum UV) photodegradation of polystyrene was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Two broad, structureless transitions were observed in the dispersed fluorescence spectrum of polystyrene when wavelengths shorter than 2,200 [angstrom] were used to excite the polymer films: the first was centered at 3,200 [angstrom], and the second was centered at 5,300 [angstrom]. The fluorescence excitation spectrum of each emission band has been recorded from 450 to 3,000 [angstrom] and is compared to the optical absorption spectrum of polystyrene from 1,050 to 3,000 [angstrom]. The 3,200-[angstrom] band is due to an excimer to ground state transition. The 5,300-[angstrom] band is due to fluorescence from a conjugated backbone structure which forms when the polystyrene films are exposed to vacuum UV radiation. Changes were observed in both the fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra following exposure to 1,200-[angstrom] or broad-band SR. Based on the data, a qualitative model is used to account for the degradation and energy transfer within the polystyrene films.

• OSTI ID: 6467986
• Journal Information: Macromolecules; (United States), Journal Name: Macromolecules; (United States) Vol. 26:13; ISSN MAMOBX; ISSN 0024-9297
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360605* -- Materials-- Radiation Effects
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUORESCENCE
LUMINESCENCE
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYSTYRENE
POLYVINYLS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
WAVELENGTHS