Random chain scission of polystyrene in electron irradiated solution

Main-chain scission was the predominant effect when dilute solutions of three linear polystyrenes in 1-methylnaphthalene and polybenzyl oligomer received up to 2000 megaroentgen of 1.5-MeV electrons. Values of energy per scission were independent of dose and of the same magnitude as literature values in dioxane and benzene solutions when compared at the same dose rate. In all cases as irradiation progressed, M_w/M_n approached a value of 2 and M_z/M_w approached a value of 1.5 characteristic of a random distribution. Starting from one initial distribution, random numbers were used to simulate random chain scission. A 500 MR (megaroentgen) distribution calculated in this manner matched the experimental distribution after a 500 MR irradiation.