Radiolysis of aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) at 77 K

Paramagnetic products of low-temperature X-ray radiolysis of aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solutions (2.5 and 5% by weight) were studied by ESR spectroscopy. Experimental spectra were ascribed to a superposition of signals from hydroxyl radicals and –CH2−
• C(OH)–CH2− macroradicals (Cα-macroradicals), respectively. No ESR signals corresponding to trapped electrons were observed that was attributed to the peculiarities of microheterogenous structure of the frozen aqueous polymer solutions. Annealing at 115 K resulted in partial conversion of OH radicals to Cα-macroradicals. It was suggested that main part of hydroxyl radicals was stabilized in phase of polycrystalline ice while macroradicals were formed in “mixed” water–polymer phase. The radiation–chemical yields of paramagnetic species stabilized in the systems under study were determined.