Cyclization and crosslinking of polybutadiene in solution by electron beam irradiation

Effects of electron beam irradiation on liquid polybutadiene in n-hexane solution were studied at ?10°C. With irradiation, crosslinking of the polymer and loss of double bond by cyclization took place at the same time. These reactions were retarded by the addition of DPPH or triethylamine which indicated that both radical and cationic mechanisms contributed to this system.