Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1884103 Radiation Physics and Chemistry 2012 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

A method to reduce the molecular weight of cellulose acetate used in cigarette filters by using electron beam irradiation is demonstrated. Radiation levels easily obtained with commercially available electron accelerators result in a decrease in average molecular weight of about six-times with no embrittlement, or significant change in the elastic behavior of the filter. Since a first step in the biodegradation of cigarette filters is reduction in the filter material's molecular weight this invention has the potential to allow the production of significantly faster degrading filters.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Physics and Astronomy Radiation
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