Application of the Charlesby model to the radiation-induced chain reactioncross-linking of oxirane functionalised polymers

A range of copolymers containing styrene and epoxystyrene, when formulated with a photo-acid generator, undergo a cross-linking reaction by a chain re action mechanism when exposed to high-energy radiation in an electron beam lithographic writing machine. The sensitivities of the formulations are sho wn to correlate with a simple kinetic model for the radiation chemistry of the system. Deductions about the nature of the cross-linking species have b een made by comparing the behaviour of the epoxystyrene system with that ob served for an epoxy novolac. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.