Free radical reaction stimulation by stretching of irradiated polymers

The free radical reaction rate in polymers is increased on polymer stretching and an increase in free radical oxidation was observed in the presence of O. Oriented polyethylene (I), isotactic polypropylene (II) and polycaprolactam films, prepared without stabilizers, wer oriented after irradiation at a dose of 700 rad/sec, in air at 3000. A decrease in the total concentration of free radicals in I films was observed with increasing degree of orientation. An increase in the orientation rate decreased the radical concentration. A higher effect of O on radical recombination in stretched I films was observed compared to N. A mechanism of radical reactions in oriented polymer films was suggested from data obtained during orientational stretching of II