Irradiation of Ethylene/Styrene Copolymers: Evidence of Sensitization of the Aromatic Moiety As Counterpart of the Radiation Protection Effect

Molecules containing aromatics systems are more stable in the presence of ionizing radiations than alkanes. In the same way, introducing aromatic rings into aliphatic compounds increases their stability. The protective effect is nonlocal and likely results from the transfer of energy and species from the aliphatic moiety to the aromatic one. For years, it was commonly assumed that the aromatic moiety, which is very radiation resistant, accommodates the extra energy remaining unaffected. The use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, online with high energy ion beam irradiation of ethylene/styrene random copolymers, allows us to bring experimental evidence that the benzene rings are sensitized by transfer reactions and consequently that this effect is more important in polymers with low benzene ring molar content.