Some effects of ionizing radiation on a polyhydroxyether

The behavior of the polyhydroxyether derived from bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin on exposure to electron irradiation (0–500 Mrads) in vacuum has been investigated. The polymer underwent chain scission, G = 0.20 (scission per 100 e. v.), with no evidence of crosslinking. Degradation was accompanied by the loss of H2 together with smaller quantities of CO, CO2, and CH4. Spectroscopic studies are reported, and a mechanism of degradation is proposed. The tensile yield stress and fracture energy of molded specimens were also examined, and changes in these properties as functions of radiation dose and molecular weight are discussed.