A study on the effect of gamma irradiation on Poly [-Ethylene Oxide]: structural modification and variation in the kinetics of isoconversional phenomena

Interactions of Poly [-Ethylene Oxide] [PEO of molecular weight 10⁵] and gamma irradiation with variable doses (1–30 kGy) are studied for the thermal, crystalline and structural properties using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) technique. Two states of PEO, viz. powder (P-S-series) and methanol solution (P-L-series) are subjected to irradiation and then cast into uniform films at room temperature. DSC results have revealed steady increment of crystallinity up to 20 kGy for P-S-series which starts reducing till 30 kGy. Conversely, P-L-series shows much enhanced crystallinity retained within low irradiation regime of 7 kGy, followed by sharp declining trend till 30 kGy. DSC is employed to study the influence of gamma radiation on multiple kinetic processes in an isoconversional melting of PEO using Friedman differential analysis. This study illustrates the variation of activation with degree of conversion of melting for different doses on irradiated PEO powder and methanol solution. Gamma irradiation is found to generate newer functional groups which are also established from FTIR study. Presence of –C=O and –C=C– groups in FTIR spectra reveals the predominance of scission during air assisted irradiation. FTIR spectra also prove higher degree of cross-linking in irradiation of methanol solution. The observations of DSC and FTIR are correlated with polymer microstructures. Therefore, selective irradiation dose can effectively be utilized to tailor the properties of PEO depending upon the exposed powder or methanol solution of polymer.