Abstract
The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was measured as a function of the dose absorbed during γ-irradiation. MWD’s were obtained from gel-permeation chromatograms with the aid of an analog computer, applying essentially a method proposed by Tung. If the initial MWD was rather broad, γ-irradiation caused it to become more narrow and, vice versa, if the initial MWD was rather narrow it became broader upon irradiation. In all cases a limiting value of (Mw/Mn)=2 was approached. This behavior meets with the expectations from the theory of random degradation and is, therefore, taken as evidence for radiation-induced random main-chain scissioning of PMMA.
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Schnabel, W., Sotobayashi, H. Molecular Weight Distribution of γ-Irradiated Poly(methyl methacrylate). Polym J 8, 423–427 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.8.423
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.8.423
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