On the Polymer Formed by Long-Term Gamma Irradiation of Benzene

Gamma irradiation of liquid benzene yielded a light yellow solid product, whose concentration increased with the radiation dose. The maximum yield (approximately 30%) was achieved at a total dose of 2.6 × 107 Gy. The product was characterized by Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy (1H and 13C NMR spectra). The studies revealed that the isolated product, whose composition was almost independent of radiation dose, contained both aromatic and aliphatic C–H bonds with the latter predominating. In addition to monosubstituted (terminal) benzene rings, the test polymer also contained di- and trisubstituted benzene rings. A possible structure for the polymeric product formed by gamma irradiation of liquid benzene is proposed.