IRRADIATION EFFECTS OF EXCIMER LASER-RADIATION AND ELECTRON-BEAM ON POLYPROPYLENE AND ETHYLENE TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE COPOLYMER FILMS

The irradiation effects of the intense ultraviolet radiation from an excimer laser on polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) copolymer films are compared with those from electron beam studies. Irradiation of PP films with a KrF laser and an electron beam induced the degradation of the polymer, and use of an ArF laser selectively decomposed the alkyl phenol type additive contained as an antioxidant in PP instead of degrading the polymer. Irradiation with a KrF laser induced the carbonization of ETFE copolymer due to polymer degradation, and irradiation with an ArF laser and an electron beam formed -C = O and -C = C- groups in the polymer chains.