The Heating Method of Micro-Phase Separation

PVME molecules dissolve in water with hydrogen bonding formation between methoxyl groups and water molecules at low temperatures. At high temperatures, since the hydrogen bonds are decomposed by the thermal motion of 

PVME gel was made from the aqueous solution by y-ray irradiation with Co60. The gelation processes are considered to be as follows  

1) OH radicals are generated from water molecules by y-ray irradiation. 

2) The OH radicals attack PVME molecules. The radicals remove hydrogen atoms from their position on the main chains of the PVME molecules and PVME radicals are generated. 

3) The polymer radicals combine and the PVME molecule is crosslinked to form the gel. 

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