Effect of the electron nature of solids on the efficiency of radiation initiation of radical polymerization chains on the surface of solids

Effect of the electronic structure (widths of the forbidden zone, Eg) of an adsorbent on radiation initiation of methyl methacrylate polymerization, the latter sorbed on the surface of some metal and silicon oxides, has been studied. The mechanism of recombination energy transfer (Erec.) of excess charge carriers in solids from the lattice to the adsorbed monomer molecule is considered. By the ESR method it is shown that radical formation occurs at 0.2 Mrad dose rate in the given systems only at Eg>4 eV. Initiation of radical polymerization occurs, if Erec. is sufficient to break bounds in the adsorbed molecule and to form the radical, i. e. Erec.≅ Eg>4 eV