| Abstract: | A direct method has been developed for determining G(crosslinks) for irradiated polymers using the analytical ultracentrifuge. The sedimentation velocity technique is employed to follow changes in the molecular weight of a narrow distribution polystyrene sample irradiated in vacuum with 60Co γ-rays. It is shown that G(crosslinks) can be determined at low doses before significant structural changes have occurred in the polymer. At about one-fifth of the gel dose G(crosslinks) was found to be 0.019 compared to a value of 0.040 obtained from gel-sol fraction measurements. It is concluded that G(crosslinks) may increase with dose due to processes such as the addition of radicals to double bonds formed during the irradiation. |
