iii~iiirmiers \vliicli
Iiavc so far I)ecii suhjcctetl to s t u d y , including styrene, methyl iiiethacryl:lte, vinyl acetate, rnethvl acryl:ite, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride, ethylene, acrylamidc :ind others. These compounds are discussed under different liendings according to wliether they are irradiated in fluid, gas, srJlid o r dissolved state and whether t h e polymer reinnins soluble or precipitates under irradiation. I n c l u d d is :in acciiunt of tlie recent and praetic:tlly promising applicatio,i ( i f rdi:itioii in producing grafted copoly~ners. The article li~iidicsivitli n discussinn of t h e design and c:ilcul:iticin of r:itlio:ictive sources suitable for industrial applications of r:icliatioii polyinerizntion. I’riiicip~~l e!Tccts i i i irr:idi:ttion of polymers arc (1) crossliiikiiig of polymer cli,iins, lending t o incre.ised riiolecul:tr iveight and eventually, with sufficicritly high dii.ngc, t o :ti1 i~isoluljletlirce diiiieiisional network (gel) and ( 2 ) ruptures in tlie main ch:iin, leading t o decreased molecular weight. StiIiie of tlie essential physical properties of polymers (soluliility, fiisibility, swelling, rliisticity j depend largely 011 ii~oIeciiI~r size, Tvitli re:Jtively little dcpendence on chemical constitution. 11nport:int aspects of tlie radiation efiect can be tliscussed, therefore, on basis of t h e clinnge in molecular iveiglit of tlic irradiated polynier. The principles were dc\.clopcd 111. K u l i l i , Flory, etc. Tlic greater p a r t ( 5 cli:ipters) of tlic article b y C1i;irleshy is devoted t o an outline nf tliis tlieiiry a n d its a1iplic;ition ti, experiincnt:il d:it;i in t h e field of ratli:itiiin. I n xldition, t h e article ~ ( i n t a i n st\vo c h p t e r s \vliicli de:tl \vitli pcrtir:r:nt aspects of t h e underlying elieinical a i i t l (iiic c1iaptc.r in ivliic!i is discussctl tlie effect of iuii m i t h e crystallinity of polynicrs :i~idtile resultant e1i:iiiges i i i ~iliysicalproperties. ‘l’lic article deals iiiaitily \vit!i e i ~ t ~ i ~ ~ i e r epio, il Iy i n ~ r s : p r ~ ~ t c i narid s iiticlcic x i d s are i i i i t tliicus~ctl. Fiir renxrding r e d i n g of this review, t h e stiitletit should liave soiiie previous :icqu.iiiitaiice ivitli ti:? cxpcriiiicntal aspects of t h e subject, as might he c1btainc.d b y iii:ikiiig iisc uf t h e literatiire refereiiccs ( X 1 ) gix-eii i l l tlic article or by reading Dr. Clinrlesby’s more poptilxr revietv in i V ~ ~ c / ~ ~ ~ i1~2z, i18 c s ,(1!1,54). ?‘lie V ( J ~ U l ! i C rcviewed is : I I I excellent :~(Iditii~ti to IIais5iiiAy’s scrics uf ~noiiogr~tplis.Typography, illustr‘iticiris :iii~llisper itre of the u i u a l liigli st:ind:ird for t h e series. ’~IIL, book is p:irticul:irly ivclcome siiicc 1111 conipxr:1I>le revicws of a n y o f tlie subjects covered :ire a t jiresciit ~v:iilablc.
I1Uc;O LEXOST,
l;I
