RADIATION-INDUCED SOLID-STATE POLYMERIZATION IN AN ACRYLAMIDE-WATER SYSTEM - THE EFFECT OF PHASE-TRANSFORMATIONS OF METASTABLE HIGH-PRESSURE ICE-VIII

A drastic suppression of the chain post polymerization process in the quenched high-pressure phase of an acrylamide-water eutectic mixture w as observed upon warming of the samples irradiated with gamma-rays at 77 K. This effect is explained by dispersion of the samples in the tem perature region of the transition of the quenched high-pressure phase into the equilibrium phase (similar to 150 K). The size of the resulti ng microcrystals of monomer was estimated to be approximately 0.1 mu m .