Radiolysis of aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) at 77 K

Low-temperature (77 K) γ-radiolysis of aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) was studied by ESR spectroscopy. Trapped electrons, hydroxyl radicals, and -CH2-ĊH-O- radicals were identified as principal paramagnetic products of radiolysis. It was shown that an increase in the polymer concentration in solution led to a growth in number of trapped electrons and -CH2-ĊH-O- macroradicals. The decay of hydroxyl radicals occurring at 110–115 K was accompanied by the formation of -CH2-ĊH-O- macroradicals and partial recombination of hydroxyl radicals. Action of visible light resulted in virtually quantitative transformation of trapped electrons into -CH2-ĊH-O- macroradicals. The radiation-chemical yields of the species trapped at 77 K were estimated and the scheme of radiation-induced chemical processes was suggested.