GENERAL AND KINETIC ASPECTS OF RADIOCHEMICAL AND THERMAL-OXIDATION OFCHLOROSULFONATED POLYETHYLENE

An unstabilised chlorosulphonated polyethylene was submitted to therma l ageing in the 110-150-degrees-C temperature range, and to radiochemi cal ageing with dose rates of 10-2500 Gy h-1 at 40, 50 and 90-degrees- C and integrated doses up to 100 kGy. Emphasis was put on oxidation ki netics studied by FTIR spectrophotometry. The results show that even u nder radiochemical ageing at low temperatures, decomposition of hydrop eroxides cannot be neglected with regard to initiation of oxidation re actions. Kinetic models derived a very simply mechanistic scheme satis fy quite closely to experimental results.