| Abstract: | Blends containing 3 wt % low molecular weight polybutadiene (PB) in a polystyrene (PS) matrix were prepared via a precipitation technique that yielded spherical, submicron pools of PB. Tensile specimens made from these blends were then irradiated with high energy electrons in air at dose levels from 0 to 70 Mrads. The blends, which previously showed high levels of toughness approaching that of high impact PS, lost all enhanced toughness when irradiated above 10 Mrads. Analysis of pure PS specimens irradiated over the dose range from 0 to 45 Mrads showed no appreciable dependence of mechanical behavior on dose level. Molecular weight studies of the polybutadiene demonstrated only a very modest increase in molecular weight in the dose range studied here; therefore, reduced mobility of the PB in the blends was not the reason for the dramatic drop in toughness with radiation dose. It was concluded that radiation-induced scission of the PS near the surface of the blends resulted in a significant local reduction in molecular weight. This degraded layer led to premature craze failure and hence a low level of toughness. It was demonstrated that the absence of oxygen during the irradiation process or the removal of the scissioned surface layer via mechanical abrasion resulted in a recovery of toughness. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
