Radiochemical grafting of acrylonitrile on polystyrene

The study of the radio-induced grafting of acrylonitrile on to preirradiated polystyrene shows that, during the radiolysis in air of this polymer as in the case of polypropylene and of poly(vinylchloride), a chain preoxidation cannot take place if the polymer is irradiated at a temperature below its glass transition temperature. Polymer plasticization produces a decrease in Tsub(g) below room temperature. It is shown that a short chain preoxidation takes place for plasticization by benzene. In the presence of chloroform, a polystyrene sensitivity to radiation is additional to the effect of plasticization. (author)