| Abstract: | A kinetic study was made of the formation of hydrogen and trans-vinylene unsaturation in the radiolysis of polyethylene induced by γ rays with a dose rate of 6.35 × 105 rad/hr at 30–100°C in vacuo. The rates of the formation of hydrogen and trans-vinylene unsaturation were described by the zero-order formation kinetics with respect to each concentration combined with the first-order disappearance. The apparent rate constant for the formation of hydrogen increased gradually with rising irradiation temperature to give the activation energy of 0.6 kcal/mole. On the other hand, those for the disappearance of hydrogen and the formation and disappearance of trans-vinylene unsaturation were almost independent of temperature. The G values for crosslinking and main-chain scission were obtained from the gel data by using the Charlesby-Pinner equation, and the activation energy of 1.5 kcal/mole was given for both of them. On the basis of these results the reactions induced by γ rays in solid polyethylene were discussed. |
