KINETICS OF FREE RADICAL DECAY REACTIONS IN BUTADIENE-STYRENE BLOCK COPOLYMERS.

This paper is concerned with reaction kinetics of block copolymer decomposition taking place under the influence of gamma radiation. In the reported experiment the researchers have tried to find answers to the following questions: (1) whether the styrene units in block form would have as large a protective action toward the free radical decay in the butadiene blocks as they do in the random copolymers; (2) whether the kinetic equations involving two simultaneous but independent decay rates which had previously developed for the types of radical decay in polyethylene (PE) were applicable to the styrene-butadiene (SB) block copolymers; and (3) whether hydrogen gas would have a catalytic effect on the free radical decay as previously observed in PE, and polypropylene. Experimental results are plotted and evaluated.