Radiation chemistry chemical changes

However, the chemical changes observed in low molecular weight compounds can be quite misleading as models for polymers. Difficulties include the high concentration of end groups, e.g. COOH in N-acetyl amino acids, which can dominate the radiation chemistry of the models. Low molecular weight compounds are usually crystalline in the solid state and reactions such as crosslinking may be inhibited or severely retarded. 

Polymer radiation chemistry is a key element of the electronics industry, in that polymer materials that undergo radiation induced changes in solubility are used to define the individual elements of integrated circuits. As the demands placed on these materials increases due to increased density, complexity and miniaturization of devices, new materials and chemistry will be required. This necessitates continued efforts to understand fundamental polymer radiation chemical processes, and continued development of new radiation sensitive materials that are applicable to VLSI Technology. 

Radiation effects on polymers are more subtle than normal radiation chemistry, in that small chemical changes may have pronounced effects on the physical properties. Because of the sensitivity of these physical properties, the radiation chemistry of Polyox is best discussed in two parts—the chemical reactions occurring and the effects of these reactions on the physical properties. 

The purpose of this article is to review the development of radiation chemistry which began with the discovery of x-rays by Roentgen(l) in 1895 and shortly afterwards of radioactivity by Becquerel(2), which in both cases Involved the observation of chemical change in photographic plates and luminescence in certain phosphors. Clearly, in the space available, the review will be restricted and subjective, but will, it is hoped, give the general framework in which the subject has developed. 

In the broad sense, radiation chemistry embraces photochemistry—the chemistry of reactions which occur in electrical discharges, and reactions in the atomic nucleus by the agency of neutrons and high-energy radiations. In this review, however, attention will be confined mainly to the chemical changes induced by a-rays, d-rays, x-rays, and y-rays. 

Accurate measurement of free-radical and molecular-product yields is important in radiation-chemistry studies on aqueous solutions, for these measurements enable quantitative predictions to be made regarding the extent of chemical changes during irradiations, and lead to an understanding of reaction mechanisms. Therefore, recent research has been directed toward the measurement of these yields, which are generally expressed as G values. An excellent account of the chemical methods used for determining G values... 

For quantitative studies in radiation chemistry, it is essential that the energy input into the irradiated volume should be accurately determined. For this purpose, the most versatile and reliable method is the ferrous sulfate dosimeter, proposed by Fricke and Morse. The method involves the use of an air-saturated solution of 10 M ferrous sulfate and 10 M sodium chloride in 0.8 N sulfuric acid. On exposure of the solution to ionizing radiations, the ferrous ion is oxidized to ferric ion, which may conveniently be determined accurately by spectrophotometry. The amount of chemical change is proportional to the total energy-input, independent of dose rate, and (within wide limits) independent of the concentration of ferrous ion, ferric ion, and oxygen. The main reactions involved are as follows. 

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