title: Primary radiation defect production in polyethylene and cellulose.
abstract: Irradiation effects in polyethylene and cellulose were examined using molecular dynamics simulations. The governing reactions in both materials were chain scissioning and generation of small hydrocarbon and peroxy radicals. Recombination of chain fragments and cross-linking between polymer chains were found to occur less frequently. Crystalline cellulose was found to be more resistant to radiation damage than crystalline polyethylene. Statistics on radical formation are presented and the dynamics of the formation of radiation damage discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, P.O. Box 43, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. jussi.polvi@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polvi
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luukkonen
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nordlund
authors.forename: Tommi T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Järvi
authors.forename: Travis W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sinnott
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D008968:Molecular Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D020959:Polyethylene; D002482:Cellulose