RADIATIVE DEGRADATION OF SYNTHETIC POLYMERS: CHEMICAL PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND TECHNOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

This bibliography-based review-paper discusses the basic chemical and physical aspects of RD in synthetic polymers and their relevance to the environmental problem of polymeric waste. Typical examples of the technological consequences of RD are noted. The discussion covers the following topics - radiation sources and dose rates; basic process in radiative degradation; physical implications of polymer radiative degradation; environmental considerations of polymer radiative degradation; typical examples of technological consequences of radiative degradation (stabilization of commercial polymers, emerging applications and related topics). Details are given on applications in photolithography electron-beam lithography; laser-induced degradation to polymer characterization; pyrolysis for studying depolymerization mechanism; ion recombination luminescence for characterizing glassy polymers; quantitative phosphorescence spectroscopy for studying photodegradation of PS, etc. Refs.