Radiation Crosslinking of Poly(vinyl chloride) Containing S-Substituted Polysulfide Pendant

Abstract

Poly (vinyl chloride) containing S-substituted polysulfide pendant (RSn-) has been found to be crosslinked even under weak T-irradiation of total dose of 6.5 X 1O-'3.8 X 105 R giving 18.1 9.7% gel. The crosslinking reaction may occur through the recombination of some radicals formed by the scission of S-substituted polysulfide pendants under r-irradiation. The recom- bination gives some crosslinkages (C-C, C-S, -C, m. 1) and polysulfide compounds of a low molecular weight e. g., (C6ll5CH₂)2S₂. The crosslinking is greatly accelerated in the poly(vinyl chloride) containing aromatic pendant (R: C6l-15-, C6H₅CO-) and more than 3 sulfur chains (n).