Radiation chemistry of poly(ethyl methacrylate) - III. Size exclusion chromatography results

Radiation induced degradation of poly(ethyl methacrylate) was studied by the size exclusion chromatography technique. Changes in the molecular mass of polymers irradiated to various doses in vacuum, air and in the presence of methanethiol were determined via the universal calibration method. Chain scission and cross-linking yields calculated from inverse molecular mass vs dose relation showed considerable differences depending on the initial polydispersity of the samples and medium of irradiation. It was also concluded that the side chain scission were the major precursors of main chain scissions accounting for almost 80% of the degradation process.