Dissolution of latex films after γ‐ray treatment

Abstract

AbstractLatex films were prepared by annealing pyrene (Py)‐labeled poly(methyl methacrylate) particles at glass‐transition temperature (100°C). These films were then irradiated by γ‐rays from 60Co in a gamma cell at room temperature at the same dose rate (rad/h) for 30 min. Before dissolution films were annealed at elevated temperatures for a 30‐min time interval to complete the film formation process. Steady‐state fluorescence (SSF) technique were used to monitor the dissolution of these irradiated latex films. The dissolution of films in chloroform–heptane (80–20%) mixture was monitored in real time by the Py fluorescence intensity change. Relaxation constants k0 and desorption coefficients Dd of polymer chains were measured. It was observed that both Dd and k0 values first increased and then decreased by increasing the annealing temperature. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 129–137, 2002