Method of detecting oxidation during radiochemical processes

A method is given for detecting and determining oxidative damage to materials and products, e.g. sanitary fittings made of polyethylene, during their modification with high-energy radiation under inert conditions. It permits to control the observance of inert gas conditions during radiochemical processes or, in the case of a violation of those conditions, to determine the degree of oxidative damage to the irradiated matter. This is achieved by adding to the irradiated matter small pieces of a radiation-oxidizable polymer sheet, e.g. a 0.2 mm thick low-density polyethylene sheet, and, after irradiation, determining the oxidation degree of that sheet either IR-spectroscopically or by means of dyeing