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Effect of electron radiation and triallyl isocyanurate on the average molecular weight and crosslinking of poly( ε ‐caprolactone)
Author(s) -
Malinowski Rafał
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.3610
Subject(s) - polymer , caprolactone , materials science , elongation , degradation (telecommunications) , polymer chemistry , irradiation , intrinsic viscosity , molar mass distribution , swelling , gel permeation chromatography , mass fraction , fraction (chemistry) , macromolecule , melt flow index , viscosity , chemical engineering , polymerization , copolymer , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , ultimate tensile strength , telecommunications , biochemistry , physics , computer science , nuclear physics , engineering
Investigation of the effect of electron radiation on the flow rate and average molecular weight of poly( ε ‐caprolactone) (PCL) as well as on formation of the gel fraction of this polymer being irradiated in the presence of triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) was the aim of the present paper. It was found that PCL macromolecules upon the electron radiation underwent both degradation and linking, because of which the polymer molecular weight increased. The processes associated with elongation of the polymer chains prevailed over the degradation ones. It was also found that PCL irradiated in the presence of TAIC underwent crosslinking resulting in formation of a significant amount of the gel fraction. The largest amount of this fraction was created upon the radiation with the dose of 60 kGy, which was confirmed by the results of determination of the swelling index. Changes in properties of PCL, occurring because of the electron radiation, are important for controlling viscosity of polymeric materials during processing of these materials. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.