Effect of DBPH and vacuum gamma radiation on metallocenic ethylene-1-hexene and ethylene-1-octadecene copolymers

Two different post reactor processes were compared, ⁶⁰Co vacuum gamma irradiation and chemical modification with 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)-hexane (DBPH), on two metallocenic copolymers. These copolymers have a similar molecular weight and crystallinity, but different side chain lengths and concentration of end vinyl groups. The influence of the crosslinking agents on the structure of the samples was studied using gel extraction, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), FTIR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The analysis of the data indicates that crosslinking reactions predominated over scission reactions in all cases. At the same conversion, peroxide modified samples show higher crosslinking levels than irradiated samples. The modified polymers show a complex rheological behavior and an increment in their rheological properties due to crosslinking. FTIR data demonstrated a depletion of vinyl terminal groups with the increment of the absorbed dose and the peroxide concentrations applied. This depletion was more significant in the peroxide crosslinked samples. A mathematical model that accounts for scission and crosslinking reactions fitted well the experimental data.     

Chitosan structure in aqueous solution

Chitosans having three different degrees of acetylation (DA) were studied in acid solution using the uranyl staining technique and electron microscopy. Strings of approximately spherical aggregates were seen. The aggregates were interpreted as micelle-like agglomerates formed by almost fully acetylated polysaccharide, interconnected by blocks of almost fully deacetylated polysaccharide stretched by electrostatic repulsion. These agglomerates include NH₃⁺ groups which produce electrostatic swelling of the agglomerates, giving a radius proportional to the degree of deacetylation. The length of the strings are also proportional to the deacetylation degree. These strings are extended because of the electrostatic repulsion between charged ammonium groups.     

Effect of the phenolic antioxidants on the structure of gamma-irradiated model polyethylene

High energy radiation has been successfully employed to modify the chemical structure of commercial polymers. It induces at least two types of reaction in polyethylene: crosslinking and chain scission. In addition the efficiency of the radio-induced reactions can be affected by the presence of antioxidants. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of the irradiation on a model polyethylene containing a phenolic type antioxidant. Samples containing 0.1% and 1% by weight of Irganox 1010 (Ciba-Geigy) were irradiated under vacuum at room temperature with different doses of gamma rays from a ⁶⁰Co source. Changes in structure and the average molecular weight were followed by gel permeation chromatography and low angle laser light scattering. The critical doses for gelation were determined as a function of the antioxidant concentration. Theoretical calculations to predict the evolution of molecular structure with extent of radiation were performed using a probability model. The agreement between the calculated and the measured molecular weights is very good.     

Molecular weight changes induced in an anionic polydimethylsiloxane by gamma irradiation in vacuum

An anionic almost monodisperse linear polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was subjected to gamma irradiation under vacuum at room temperature. The molecular weight changes induced by the radiation process have been investigated using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with refraction index (RI) and multi angle laser light scattering (MALLS) detectors, to obtain the number and weight average molecular weights of the irradiated samples.The analysis of the data indicates that crosslinking reactions predominated over scission reactions. The results obtained by an SEC-RI have confirmed the presence of small, but measurable amounts of scission.A previously developed mathematical model of the irradiation process that accounts for simultaneous scission and crosslinking and allows for both H- and Y-crosslinks, fitted well the measured molecular weight data. This prediction is in accordance with the experimental data obtained by ²⁹Si-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and previously reported data for commercial linear PDMS (Satti et al., 2008).     

Crosslinking of metallocenic α-olefin propylene copolymers by vacuum gamma irradiation

Metallocenic polypropylene and copolymers with 3.7, and 9.2 mol% of hexene and 3.0 mol% of octadecene comonomer content were synthesized without the presence of additives and irradiated with ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation under vacuum at room temperature. Size Exclusion Cromatography and gel extraction data showed that scission reactions predominate over crosslinking in the homopolymer and that there is a dose from where crosslinking started to increase considerably, in the irradiated copolymers. Rheology also showed evidence of chain-enlargements on the copolymers by means of an increase in the viscoelastic properties of the irradiated material.     

Modelling molecular weight changes induced in polydimethylsiloxane by gamma and electron beam irradiation

A commercial linear polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was subject to gamma irradiation under vacuum and in air, as well as to accelerated electron beam radiolysis (EB). All irradiation treatments were done at room temperature. The molecular weight changes induced by the radiation processes have been investigated using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with refraction index (RI) and multi angle laser light scattering (MALLS) detectors to obtain the number and weight average molecular weights of the irradiated samples.

The analysis of the data indicates that crosslinking reactions predominated over scission reactions in all cases. Gamma irradiation under vacuum was the most efficient process within the analyzed dose range, reaching the gel point earlier. Irradiation in the presence of oxygen induces oxidative effects, both in gamma and EB irradiations. A previously developed mathematical model of the irradiation process that accounts for simultaneous scission and crosslinking and allows for both H and Y crosslinks fitted well the measured molecular weight data.     

Improved postharvest quality in patagonian squash (Cucurbita moschata) coated with radiation depolymerized chitosan

Different molecular weight chitosans were evaluated on the decay of coated Anquito squashes (Cucurbita moschata) as well as the maintenance of the fruit quality along five storage months. The original chitosan (Mw=391 kDa, 83% DD), was depolymerized by gamma radiation. Apart from chain scission, other chemical changes were not detected by FTIR or UV–vis analyses. The molecular weight characterization of chitosans was done by size exclusion chromatography with dual light scattering and concentration detection (SEC-MALLS-RI). The coating effectiveness was evaluated on the following parameters: fungal decay incidence, weight loss, firmness, total reducing sugar, soluble solid, flesh color, carotene content, pH and titratable acidity. No sign of fungal decay was observed in squashes coated with 122 and 56 kDa chitosans, which were also the most effective treatments in reducing the weight loss. The chitosan with Mw=122 kDa was also the best treatment considering firmness, internal aspect, sugar and carotene content. Then, radiation degraded chitosan was better in C. moschata preservation than the original chitosan.