Effect of dose rate on the radiation graft copolymerization of styrene to cellulose in the presence of acid

At both low and high dose rates (19.5-501 krad/h), in the absence of air, the presence of certain mineral acids enhance the grafting of styrene in methanol to cellulose by the mutual irradiation technique. Sulphuric acid is the most effective of the mineral acids in enhancement. In the presence of air, acid enhances grafting at high dose rates (c. 400 krad/h). Acid can also induce a Trommsdorff peak in the grafting system or, alternatively, enhance the magnitude of the effect if it is already present. These enhanced acid effects in radiation grafting to cellulose are attributed to an increase in hydrogen atom yields. (author)