Photochemical radiation, such as light at 2800angstroms, has the ability to break C-C bonds and instigate both scission and crosslinking. There are two types of radiative degradation, photolysis, and radiolysis. Degradation of the polymer chain by this method is due to the absorption of energy in discrete energy units by specific functional groups that are on the chain. Radiolysis occurs under the influence of ionizing radiation, which is X-rays, electron beams, and gamma rays.
Radicals form by a random ray striking a particular atom and initiating an energy transfer.
The presence of a radical initiates unsaturation in chemical bonding, chain scission, and crosslinking, as well as volatile fragements that initiate the formation of more radicals, perpetrating the reactions. The use of polymers in radiative environments is discussed in depth at UMaryland's Laboratory for Radiation and Polymer Science . This page prepared by Kimberly Farrell for Professor Sisson of WPI , for use in ME XXX, Corrosion and assorted fun times.