Solvent effect on copolymerization of maleimide with styrene induced by irradiation of ion and electron beams

Nakagawa, Seiko*; Taguchi, Mitsumasa; Kimura, Atsushi

The radiation-induced polymerization of styrene with maleimide was studied in methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol solutions by irradiation of electrons and C-ions. Co-polymer of styrene and maleimide was produced in each alcohol by radiation polymerization which induced the solvent radicals. The yields of the co-polymer for irradiation of the electrons and C-ions were 2.45 and 1.85 mg/mL/kGyin methanol, 4.41 and 3.16 mg/mL/kGy in ethanol, and 4.77 and 3.67 mg/mL/kGy in 2-propanol, respectively. Because the reactivity of the solvent radical with monomers (styrene and maleimide) was considered to increase in order of methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol. The yield of the co-polymer for irradiation of C-ions (High-LET radiation, 600 eV/nm) was lower than that of electrons (Low-LET radiation, 0.2 eV/nm).