Electron spin resonance studies of irradiated acrylamide and methacrylamide

Electron spin resonance spectra of the irradiated monomers and polymers of both acrylamide and methacrylamide were studied. On thermal treatment, the spectra are changed both in their patterns and in intensity. The polymerization yield of these monomers after irradiation followed by the same thermal treatment as with that used for ESR samples was also studied. The radicals existing in the irradiated acrylamide are concluded to be a mixture of two kinds of radicals, one at the ends and the other in the middle of the polymer chain.