On the radio-oxidation, at high doses, of an industrial polyesterurethane and its pure resin

Gas mass spectrometry was used to quantify the gas release with exposure doses up to 4000 kGy for the pure material and 10 000 kGy for the industrial polymer: the evolution with dose is weak and is increasing only in the case of carbon dioxide. The in-chain modifications were identified by infrared spectroscopy or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and correspond probably mainly to the formation of hydroperoxides, hydroxyls and ketones, along with alkenes. By GC-MS or thermodesorption analyses, oxidation products trapped in the polymer matrixes are identified and are esters, carboxylic acids, alcohols, an aromatic molecule and oligomers.