Low-temperature IR spectroscopy is used to study the radiolytic format
ion of CO2 and CO in polycarbonate, polybutyleneterephthalate, and mix
tures with various mixing times. Mixing the homopolymers is shown to a
ffect the spectroscopic characteristics of the CO2 and CO bands. The f
ormation of CO is modeled as a stabilization of part of the CO molecul
e near radiation defects (primarily negative ions).