Preparation and characterization of gradient polymer films
Gradient polymers are multicomponent polymers whose chemical constitution varies with depth in the sample. Although these polymers may possess unique mechanical, optical, and barrier properties they remain relatively unexplored. This work is a study of the preparation of gradient polymers by sequential exposure of films to a diffusing monomer followed by electron beam irradiation. Initial experiments involved immersion of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films in styrene or n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) for various time periods followed by irradiation with 1 or 10 megarads of accelerated electrons. A significant amount of poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) formed in PVC/BMA systems, but little polystyrene could be found in the PVC/styrene films. A second set of experiments involved immersion of PVC and polyethylene (PE) films in BMA for 20, 40, 60, and 720 minutes followed by irradiation with 10 megarads of electrons. These films were then characterized using optical microscopy, quantitative transmission Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a depth profiling procedure based on quantitative attenuated total reflection (ATR) FTIR. It was concluded that the mechanism of PBMA formation in the polyethylene films was a result of events immediately following irradiation. Atmospheric oxygen diffusing into irradiated films trapped free radicals at the film surfaces. This was followed by storage in an evacuated desiccator where unintentional exposure to BMA vapor took place. This BMA reacted with free radicals that remained within the film cores, polymerizing to PBMA.
- Research Organization:
- Tennessee Univ., Knoxville (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6713925
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
POLYMERS
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
ACRYLATES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CORRELATIONS
DEPTH
DIFFUSION
ELECTRON BEAMS
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
IRRADIATION
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
OXYGEN
POLYACRYLATES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYSTYRENE
PVC
REFLECTIVITY
SYNTHESIS
TIME DEPENDENCE
VARIATIONS
BEAMS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DIMENSIONS
ELEMENTS
ESTERS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
LEPTON BEAMS
MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASTICS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYVINYLS
SPECTRA
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TRANSFORMATIONS
360601* - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture
360605 - Materials- Radiation Effects
400600 - Radiation Chemistry