Physical and thermal properties of 8 MeV electron beam irradiated HPMC polymer films

Microstructural modification in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) polymer films induced by electron irradiation is studied. Irradiation was performed in air at room temperature using a 8 MeV electron accelerator at doses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 kGy. Irradiation can be used to crosslink or degrade the desired component or to fix the polymer morphology. Changes in microstructural parameters, crystallinity and thermal properties in virgin and irradiated HPMC films have been studied using wide angle X-ray scattering data and differential scanning calorimetry. The heat of fusion and the degree of crystallinity are found to be highest for unirradiated HPMC and the crystallite size is larger in virgin HPMC films.