Radiation-induced crosslinking and degradation of polyamides containing CH2, O, S, and SO2 groups directly between aromatic rings

Changes in the intrinsic viscosity of polyamides of isophthalic acid and diphenylenediamine having aromatic rings linked with CH2 (1), O (2), S (3) and SO2 (4) groups were investigated. It was found that polyamides (1) and (4) are crosslinked on irradiation in the absence of air, and they are degraded when irradiated in the presence of air. Polyamide (2) is degraded, and polyamide (3) is crosslinked when irradiated both in the absence and presence of air. (author)