Interpretation of stepwise radical decay in polymers by electron-radical reaction mechanism

Abstract

THE DECAY of trapped radicals is known to exhibit stepwise characteristics'P which cannot be explained either by considering chain or segment mobilities or by assuming radical migration along the chains. On the other hand, it was suggested by Talrosev as early as 1959, that radicals in solids can react with electrons activated by the radiation. Such reactions have been investigated by the author by radiation induced conductivity measurements combined with electron spin resonance for polyamides.v Reactions of trapped electrons with radicals have been recently investigated by Ayscough'? in frozen low molecular weight hydrocarbons. On the basis of this evidence, an attempt is made to interpret the stepwise radical decay in polymers by assuming that radicals react with electrons mobilized from traps by the heat energy.