RADIATION-INDUCED DEGRADATION OF EPR BY IR OXIDATION PROFILING

Infrared absorption spectroscopy has been used to investigate the effe ct of gamma-radiation on ethylene-propylene copolymer loaded with diff erent amount of antioxidant. The oxidation profiles were obtained anal yzing, slices of the samples by an IR microscope. The IR spectra have shown that the antioxidant content does not affect the shape of the ox idation profiles; their dependance on thickness and dose rate is in go od agreement withthe Clough and Gillen model. Our results indicate tha t the antioxidant does not affect the reactions involved in the oxidat ion process and the oxygen distribution on the sample.