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The chemical changes in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) caused by irradiation with deep ultraviolet (UV), x-ray, electron, and proton beams were studied by gel permeation chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared, and UV spectroscopy. The quantitative analysis of spectroscopic changes (Beer’s law) demonstrated a 1:1 correspondence between the disappearance of ester groups and the generation of double bonds in the polymer chain by all types of radiation. The ratio of main chain scission to changes in the number of ester groups and unsaturated bonds was compared to determine the characteristics of degradation of PMMA by the different types of radiation. This ratio for deep UV data was very close to the quantum yield of main chain scission of PMMA as reported in the literature. High-energy radiation was ∼10× more efficient than deep UV in causing main chain scission with removal of fewer ester groups. Protons induced more main chain scission than electrons. X-ray irradiation was the most efficient at causing main chain scission of the four different types of radiation.
Choi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.