Thermal and photo-induced phenomena in γ-irradiated poly(methyl methacrylate)

ESR spectra and optical absorption spectra of γ-irradiated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at 77°K and the photo- and thermal bleaching behavior have been studied. γ-Irradiation of PMMA yields a singles spectrum with a line width of 6 G which is bleachable with visible light. This species is assigned to the polymer cation. The unbleached species consists mainly of a four-line spectrum and is assigned to a polymer radical having a different CH₂ conformation from the usual nine-line spectrum. On subsequent warming to room temperature, the spectrum changes into the nine-line spectrum. γ-Irradiation of PMMA containing biphenyl as an additive at 77°K gives biphenyl cation. Yield of polymer radical is reduced by the addition of biphenyl and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran. A mechanism is proposed which is consistent with the experimental results.     

Formation and thermal-induced decay of radical ions in polymer matrices

The formation of radical ions in γ-irradiated polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) matrices at 77°K and thermal-induced reaction of these radical ions were of studied by optical absorption spectroscopic measurements. The radical ions of stilbene and pyrene were investigated. These radical ions decay according to second-order kinetics, which means that the neutralization reaction of the cationic species and anionic species participates in the decay process. The kinetic plots consist of two straight lines; that is, fast and slow decay processes are concerned. The activation energies were estimated to be E_fast = 2.4 kcal/mol and E_slow = 6.4 kcal/mol, respectively. The probability of recombination reaction depends on the distance between cationic and anionic species.     

γ-radiolysis of acetylated cotton cellulose: An ESR study

The nature and behavior of free radicals induced in acetylated cotton celluloses irradiated with γ-rays have been studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Dehydrogenation and deacetylation appear to be responsible for the free radicals observed from samples irradiated at 77°K. The degree of substitution enhanced the yield of acetyl radicals when the samples were irradiated at 77°K and adversely affected the overall radical concentration when irradiation was done at 300°K. In addition, the ESR spectra of samples irradiated under vacuum at 300°K were more intense than those obtained from samples irradiated in air. The nature, yield, and post-irradiation behavior of the primary radicals are discussed in the light of the ultimate chemical effects observed.     

Electron spin resonance study of the radiation-induced polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole

When crystals of N-vinylcarbazole are γ-irradiated at 77°K., the ESR spectrum observed before warming consists of three peaks attributed to a radical–cation with the unpaired spin associated mainly with the nitrogen atom. Above 90°K. polymerization occurs, initiated by the cation, and the spectrum changes to that of an alkyl type of radical, ?N? ?H? CH₂, trapped in the polymer. Single crystals were used for a detailed analysis of the nuclear hyperfine parameters of the observed radicals.     

NMR and ESR studies of the solid-state polymerization of vinyl monomers. II. Acrylic acid

The post-polymerization of acrylic acid, γ-irradiated at 77°K, has been studied by broad-line NMR and ESR between 240°K and 286°K (mp). The changes in the structure of NMR spectra during the polymerization has been related to the conversion yield checked by gravimetry of the polymer formed. The very fast reaction occurring above ?270°K has been followed simultaneously by NMR and thermal analysis. This last method indicates an activation energy of chain propagation of 18.6 ± 2 kcal/mole in satisfactory agreement with the value given by the initial slope of the conversion—time curves. ESR experiments show that, while the average radical concentration decays by a factor of about ten between 77°K and 240°K, the local concentration of radicals persisting after prolonged annealing at T > 240°K, remains the same as at 77°K, i.e., 1.4 × 10¹⁹ spins/g. A kinetic scheme, assuming an exponential decay of propagation and termination rate constants with chain length, has been proposed to explain the shape of conversion—time curves as well as the almost constancy of the local concentration of growing polymer chains.     

An ESR study of free radicals formed in irradiated poly(alpha-methyl styrene) by gamma-radiation

The radiolysis of poly(α-methyl styrene) with γ-radiation has been studied at 77 and 300 K by ESR spectroscopy. The radical intermediates formed at these temperatures have been identified by utilization of the techniques of photobleaching, thermal annealing and simulation. The radical yields were found to be 0.105±0.005 at 77 K and 0.05±0.003 at 298 K.     

Electron spin resonance studies of polycarbonate irradiated by γ-rays and ultraviolet light

Paramagnetic species produced in polycarbonate (PC) by γ- or ultraviolet irradiation were investigated by ESR. In γ-irradiation, scissions of carbonate groups in the main chain occur. ESR spectra (g = 2.003₄) composed of a sharp singlet, some broad singlets, and a small signal with hyperfine structure are obtained, and they are assigned to trapped electrons, positive radical ions, phenoxy-type free radicals, phenyl radicals, and ? O? C₆H₄? C(CH₃)₂ radicals. The G value for total yields of paramagnetic species at 77°K is 1.8. The percentage of CO and CO₂, the dominant gases evolved, is 65.4 and 33.8%, respectively. In ultraviolet irradiation, energy is absorbed selectively at the surface region. The surface region becomes insoluble in methylene chloride because of crosslinking of phenyl groups. The ESR spectrum obtained at 77°K is a broad singlet and assigned to phenoxy-type free radicals, phenyl radicals, and polyenyl-type free radicals. Some differences in effects of γ- and ultraviolet irradiation of PC are discussed.     

Mechanism of radiation-induced degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) as studied by ESR and electron spin echo methods

The role of radical species in the degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) induced by γ-irradiation has been studied by means of electron spin resonance and electron spin echo spectroscopy. The major radical species generated initially at 77 K are assigned to main chain ? CH ? and side chain ? COOCH₂ radicals, and ? COOCH anion radical. Only the ? COOCH₂ radical converts to the scission-type ? CH₂ ? C(CH₃)COOCH₃ radical on warming the sample of >180 K. A part of the ? CH ? radical disappears on warming the sample of >265 K. It is concluded that the scission of PMMA main chain occurs by the intramolecular process from the ? COOCH₂ radical as the precursor state.     

Efficiency of radiation-induced main-chain scission of poly (methyl methacrylate) depends on the irradiation temperature because of coexisting monomer

Effect of irradiation temperature on the main-chain scission of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) caused by γ-irradiation was studied by means of gel permeation chromatography and ESR spectroscopy. Although no temperature dependency was observed on the scission efficiency for purified PMMA, the efficiency for crude or monomer-doped purified PMMA was decreased by decreasing the temperature below ca. 200 K. Above 200 K the efficiency was constant and did not depend on the purity of PMMA. ESR study of the irradiated PMMA revealed that the suppression of the scission below 200 K is induced by the addition of methyl methacrylate monomer to primary radical species, which otherwise cause the main-chain scission by warming the polymer above 200 K. The primary radical generated above 200 K immediately converts to the scission-type ? CH₂ ? ?(CH₃) COOCH₃ radical through the β-scission of the polymer main chain, so that the efficiency of the scission does not depend on both the impurity and the irradiation temperature. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Characterization of tunneling systems in molecular versus polymer glasses by high-pressure photon echo spectroscopy

Intrinsic differences between tunneling two-level systems (TLSs) in molecular versus polymeric glasses are revealed by studying the effect of compression on TLS dynamics. Photon echo studies under variable low-temperature (1.1-2.3 K) and high-pressure (0-30 kbar) conditions have been performed to contrast the effect of compression on molecular [2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran (2MTHF)] versus polymer [Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)] glasses. The pressure-induced reduction in the magnitude of the optical dephasing rate of rhodamine 640 in a molecular glass (2MTHF) is found to be comparable to the volume decrease of the glass (e.g., approximately 20% at 30 kbar), indicating that TLSs in 2MTHF are associated with void space or low-density regions of the glass. In contrast, the relative pressure insensitivity observed for organic polymer glasses (PMMA) supports the idea that these TLSs are associated with side chain defects. The power-law exponent for the temperature-dependent dephasing in 2MTHF also decreased significantly at high pressure, suggesting a change in the form of the TLS density of states upon compression of the molecular glass.     

Cation,solvent, and substituent effects on the decay kinetics of alkali metal salts of diaryl disulfide radical anions in nonaqueous solutions

The transient diaryl disulfide radical anions (RSSR^?) were produced in nonaqueous solutions at room temperature by the flash photolysis of a solution of arylthiolate ion pair in the presence of the excess corresponding disulfide. The transient spectra were almost identical with those obtained from γ-radiolysis of the disulfides in 77 K 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran (MTHF) glassy matrix. The spectra of disulfide radical anions in nonaqueous solutions were changed by cations, solvents, and para-substituents depending on the ion pair properties. The tighter ion pairs showed a shift of absorption band to the shorter wavelength. The disulfide radical anions decay by a unimolecular dissociation reaction to yield thiolate anion and thiyl radical. The decay kinetics were first-order in the initial time region. The rate constants obtained were changed by the counter cations in the order Na⁺ > K⁺ > Cs⁺ > Li⁺, and by solvents. The tighter ion pairs of the disulfide radical anions showed faster dissociation reaction. This is due to stabilization of a transition state with the counter cation.     

Neutron powder profile studies of the gamma uranium trioxide phases

Neutron powder profile studies show the existence of three phases in gamma uranium trioxide between 373°K and 77°K. The three phases are closely related and the transitions smooth and displacive. At 373°K, γ-UO₃ is tetragonal, with a = 6.9013 (5) and c = 19.9754 (18) Å, and space group $\text{I4}{}_1\text{amd(}\text{D}{}^{19}{}_{\mathrm{4h}}\text{)}$. At 323°K, γ-UO₃ becomes orthorhombic, space group F_ddd(D²⁴_2h), with the cell dimensions (293°K) a = 9.787 (3), b = 19.932 (4) and c = 9.705 (3) Å. There is a further transition between 293°K and 77°K, and, at 77°K, the orthorhombic dimensions of the pseudocell are a = 9.8225 (7), b = 19.8487 (15), and c = 9.6318 (7) Å. The neutron diffraction studies show that, in all three phases, the coordination polyhedra of the two crystallographically distinct uranium atoms are octahedral and (dodecahedral-2) respectively. At 293°K, the shortest UO distance is 1.796 (6) Å, and thus there are no pure uranyl bonds, in agreement with the infrared spectrum. The UO distances are precise to about ± 0.006 Å, about ten times the precision of an earlier X-ray single-crystal study, in which the conclusions were in conflict with the infrared spectrum. The structure is made up of parallel chains of edge-fused U(2) octahedra, cross-linked by U(1) dodecahedra. The atomic shifts are not great in going from 373°K to 77°K; at 293°K the data will refine in the pseudotetragonal cell as well as the true orthorhombic cell, and the 77°K data will refine in the F_ddd cell.     

Single vibronic level resonant Raman scattering of molecular ions in solid glass: PMDA anion and naphthalene cation

Resonant Raman spectra were obtained for the radical anion of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) in MTHF glass and the radical cation of naphthalene in alkyl halide glass at 77 K by using a pulsed tunable dye laser. The intensity pattern of the single vibronic level resonant Raman resembles that of hot fluorescence when the homogeneous line width of the intermediate level is narrow. Overtones and combinations of the excited vibrational mode prevail in the spectra.     

ESR and NMR study of the γ-ray-induced postpolymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on zeolite

The γ-ray-induced postpolymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate adsorbed on Linde zeolite 13X irradiated at 77°K has been studied between 303 and 343°K as a function of the amount of adsorbed monomer and of the irradiation dose. The change in the nature and the concentration of free radical with temperature and duration of the postpolymerization was followed by the ESR method, whereas the formation of polymer was monitored continuously by the decay of the ¹H-NMR absorption line of the monomer under high-resolution conditions. It was found that the overall postpolymerization kinetics may be accounted for by assuming an exponential decay of radical propagation and recombination reactions with chain length. The tacticity of the polymer recovered by destroying the matrix in hydrofluoric acid was determined by ¹³C-NMR. The probability of isotactic addition of AN and MMA is larger than in the radical polymerization in solution owing likely to the association of adsorbed monomer molecules in pairs preforming an isotactic diad.     

Main chain scission reaction of poly(methyl methacrylate) caused by two-photon ionization of dopant

The main chain scission reaction of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) doped with N,N,N,′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) was examined by ESR spectroscopy and GPC measurement, and the scission mechanism was analyzed. The two-photon ionization of TMPD with excimer laser excitation at 77 K produced an ester radical anion of PMMA (PMMA·m?), which becomes the main chain tertiary radical ? CH₂? C˙(CH₃)? CH₂? after the detachment of the ester side group by annealing of the sample at room temperature. The main chain scission radical ˙C(CH₃)(COOCH₃)? (PMMA˙) which was produced by the β-scission from? CH₂? ˙C(CH₃)? CH₂? showed the 13-line ESR spectrum instead of the ordinary 9-line, due to the fast quenching of the sample to 77 K. The change of the molecular weight distribution was measured by GPC after several irradiation-and-annealing operations. The simulation of the GPC curve confirmed that the scission re-action occurs at random in the PMMA chain in the solid and the main chain scission yield from the ester radical anion, [PMMA˙]/[PMMA·m?], is 0.30. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

2-methyl tetrahydrofuran radicals formed by γ-radiolysis in the liquid phase

Identification of the radical species formed by γ-radiolysis of MTHF in the liquid phase was made by analysis of the ESR spectra observed from the spin-adducts of the radicals. A new secondary MTHF radical was found in addition to the tertiary radical.     

ESR studies on the conversion of mechanoradicals of poly(methyl methacrylate) and its self-degradation

Mechanisms of the conversion of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) radicals produced by ball-milling have been investigated by means of ESR. The spectrum observed after a short milling time (0·1 h) at 77 K in vacuum was resolved into the three components, a triplet, a nonet and a doublet. The nonet, the triplet and the doublet are ascribed to the three kinds of radical:

respectively. On the other hand, it was found that the spectrum after milling for more than 18 h at 77 K in a vacuum consisted of the nonet and the doublet, which had been converted from the triplet. The conversion of the triplet to the doublet during long milling suggests inter- and/or intra-hydrogen abstraction by the radical responsible for the triplet.The doublet observed after milling for longer than 18 h did not change its line-shape up to 263 K but on further warming to 273 K for 0·1 h the spectrum changed to give a triplet component. This reproduction of the triplet was interpretated in terms of β-bond scission to the unpaired electron of the radical (C), due to the thermal treatment. The bond scission was confirmed by the observed decrease in the molecular weight after the heat treatment. The radical (B) formed by the β-scission abstracts the hydrogen in the PMMA parent molecule to produce a radical of the species (C). This cyclic reaction leads to a self-degradation.     

Photodegradation of cellulose acetate fibers

The photodegradation of cellulose acetate fibers by ultraviolet light in vacuo at 77°K and at ambient temperature was studied. Three kinds of light sources with different wavelengths between 2353 and 6000 Å were employed. ESR studies at 77°K show that several kinds of free radicals are produced from cellulose diacetate (CDA) and cellulose triacetate (CTA) fibers when irradiated with light of wavelength shorter than 2800 Å. Among these methyl radicals formed decayed within 210 min at 77°K. When the temperature was raised above 77°K, radical transformation occurred at 87°K and most of the free radicals decayed at 193°K, whereas the cellulosic radicals were stable at this and even at higher temperatures. Ultraviolet spectroscopy studies revealed that the main chromophores are the carbonyl function of the acetyl group and acetal groups in the polymer. The photodegradation of the polymers at ambient temperature resulted in the formation of gaseous products (mainly CO, CO₂, and CH₄), together with the loss of bound acetic acid content and sample weight. Decreases in viscosity and reduction of tensile strength and elongation were also observed in the irradiated samples, revealing that the overt effects of ultraviolet light on cellulose acetate fibers are interpreted in terms of free-radical reactions ultimately leading to main-chain and side-group scissions, unsaturation, and the formation of small molecule fragments. Among these, main-chain scission took place predominantly in CDA fiber and side-group scission in CTA fiber. The mechanism of the fundamental photochemical degradation processes of cellulose acetate fibers is elucidated.     

ESR Studies of λ-Irradiated Poly[3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane]

Poly[3,3-bis(chloromethyl)] oxetane in vacuo, after λ-irradiation at 77°K and room temperature, showed ESR spectra consisting of a triplet (hfs of 22.0G) and a doublet (hfs of 17.8G), respectively. The triplet ESR spectrum is attributed to the -CH₂-C(CH₂Cl)-CH₂ -O- radical and the doublet ESR spectrum is attributed to the -CH₂-C(CH₂Cl)₂-CH-O- radical. The G values for formation of radicals are estimated to be 0.3 and 0.5 at 298 and 77°K, respectively.     

Electron Spin Resonance of Trapped Radicals and the Photoinduced Radical Conversion in γ-Irradiated 3-Methylpentane Glasses at 77°K

Studies on the isotropic hyperfine splitting constants of protiated and deuterated 3-methylpentyl radicals produced by γ-ray accompanied with the radical yield determinations reveal that the radicals are distributed in clusters in the matrix. A tentative mechanism with the migration of positive hole is proposed for the formation of UV-induced new radicals following γ-irradiation in 3-methylpentane glasses at 77°K; and to account for all the experimental observation.