Polymerization induced by electron-beam irradiation of octadecyl methacrylate in the form of a multilayer or monolayer

In continuation of the previous series of studies, polymerization of octadecyl methacrylate (ODMA) induced by electron beams has been investigated in a form of its multilayer or monolayer in an attempt to prepare a stable thin polymer film having a regular layer structure. ODMA multilayers were prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique and irradiated with electron beams from a Van de Graaff accelerator. Multiple reflection infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffractometry revealed that the ODMA multilayer was polymerized to give a thin polymer film having a regular layered structure when irradiated in nitrogen atmosphere, but no indication of polymerization was observed when irradiated in air. A preliminary study on the ODMA monolayer at a nitrogen--water interface indicated that the monolayer was polymerized