Solvent effect on copolymerization of maleimide with styrene induced by irradiation of ion and electron beams

• The polymer yield increased with increasing the reactivity of the solvent radical.
• The reactivity of the solvent radical will also influence the molecular weight.
• The effect of specific energy of the ion was observed at the dose rate of 20 nA.

The radiation-induced polymerization of styrene with maleimide was studied in methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol solutions by irradiation of electrons, protons, He and C-ions. The polymer yield increased in the order methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol, depending on the reactivity of the solvent radical to initiate the polymerization. Furthermore, the effect of the specific energy of the ions was observed in the methanol and ethanol solutions by ion irradiation at the dose rate of 20 nA. Not only the radical distribution depending on the LET value or dose rate, but also the reactivity of the solvent radical to initiate the polymerization will influence the polymer yield and the distribution of the molecular weight.