γ‐Radiolysis of ketone polymers. I. Studies of symmetrical aliphatic ketones as model compounds

γ‐Radiolysis of model ketones of the general structure R(CO)R, neat and in hydrocarbon solution, show that the radio‐chemical degradation of these aliphatic ketones can be explained by mechanisms analogous to those generally accepted for the photochemical decompositions of the same compounds. The G (type I) and G (type II) yields are found to decrease with increasing total chain length of the ketone as monitored by the products (RH) and (CH3COR), respectively. Differences in the relative yields of type I and II products are attributed to the higher incident energies involved in γ‐radiolysis as compared to ultraviolet photolysis. Evidence is presented for energy transfer from paraffinic solvents to aliphatic ketonic solutes. Solid‐ and condensed‐phase studies show the importance of rotational and diffusional mobility to the yields of the type II and I processes, respectively.