On establishing mechanisms of radiation-induced network formation in high polymers

0021-8995

Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science

Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Physics

In an effort to develop new techniques for studying the effects of irradiation on high polymers, the influence of molecular weight distribution has been investigated. From general mathematical expressions obtained by Saito, equations have been developed to be used for polymers of Schulz-Zimm distributions, and their mixtures. According to the computations, it should be possible to distinguish between crosslinking and endlinking as alternative mechanisms of network formation, by comparing gelling doses for samples of different initial distributions. From gelling dose determinations for polystyrene samples of different polydispersities, it was confirmed that network formation in irradiated polystyrene takes place through crosslinking, in agreement with mechanisms suggested by several authors. It is believed that the simple technique described should be useful for studying radiation processes in polymers that form networks, especially since the method is insensitive to the extent of degradation.

1 Ill.

Electronic Resource