Effect of oxygen on gamma irradiation of polypropylenes studied by positron annihilation spectroscopy

The aim of this paper is to study the effect of oxygen on the microstructure of PP irradiated by gamma ray. The released gases from the sample in irradiation process were measured by gas chromatography. The results showed that the hydrogen release from the irradiated PP is independent on the irradiation atmosphere. It is only dependent on the irradiation dose that could be interpreted by a simple model. The microstructure of PP samples irradiated under different atmospheres is studied by positron annihilation spectroscopy. It is found that there are two sub-peaks in free volume distribution of PP irradiated under helium, while only one peak in the distribution of PP irradiated under air. It is the direct evidence to the argument that the new voids are formed in the irradiation process under inert gas and the oxygen may induce the voids to merge together. The influence of oxygen on the crystalline of PP irradiated by gamma is also discussed.