Abstract
Dry poly (vinylalcohol)(PVA) powder was irradiated at room temperature in air with Trays up to 9.0×107r. The scission of the main chain predominates, although chain branching reactions might also occur. The G-value for the scission was 0.9. It was found that equal amount of the carbonyl and carboxyl groups were formed by the scission and increased with increasing dose. It appears that the γ-irradiation gives rise to one carbonyl group and one carboxyl group per a molecule. Oxygen in air plays a significant role for these radiation effects.
