Radiation-induced crosslinking of polyvinyltrimethylsilane in the presence of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and allyl methacrylate

Radiation-induced crosslinking of homogeneous glassy polyvinyltrimethylsilane was carried out either by the gamma-irradiation of the polymeric films containing 3-20 wt% of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate or by the radiation-induced grafting of allyl methacrylate from vapour phase onto films made of pure polymer. The dependence of grafting value on the absorbed gamma-irradiation dose and film thickness was investigated. The modified films were analyzed for the sol/gel content and the dependence of gel fraction yield of crosslinked polymer on absorbed dose, concentration of the crosslinking agents and film thickness. The radiation-chemical yields of crosslinking and degradation as well as gelation doses were calculated. The permeability of oxygen and nitrogen through the crosslinked films was determined. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.