RADIATION-INDUCED DEGRADATION OF EPR BY IR OXIDATION PROFILING

Infrared absorption spectroscopy has been used to investigate the effect of gamma-radiation on ethylene-propylene copolymer loaded with different amount of antioxidant. The oxidation profiles were obtained analyzing, slices of the samples by an IR microscope. The IR spectra have shown that the antioxidant content does not affect the shape of the oxidation profiles; their dependance on thickness and dose rate is in good agreement withthe Clough and Gillen model. Our results indicate that the antioxidant does not affect the reactions involved in the oxidation process and the oxygen distribution on the sample.