  Interactions of Poly (Ethylene Oxide) [PEO] and gamma irradiation of variable
doses (1-30 kGy) on the thermal, crystalline and structural properties are
investigated using DSC and FTIR technique. Two states of PEO, viz. powder
(P-S-series) and solution (P-L-series) are subjected to irradiationand are
castinto uniform film.DSC results revealed steady increment of crystallinity
upto 20 kGy for P-S-series after which amorphous region increases till 30 kGy.
Conversely, P-L-series shows much enhanced crystallinity retained within low
regime of 7 kGy, followed by sharp declining trend till 30 kGy. DSC is also
used to determine the multiple kinetic processes in an isoconversional PEO
melting using Friedman differential analysis. Gamma irradiation is found to
generate newer functional groups established from FTIR study. FTIR spectra of
generated peaks viz. -C=O, -C=C- exhibit scission dominated irradiation induced
in presence of air. Contribution of cross-linkage which is higher in liquid
irradiation is also proved from FTIR. The studied observations of DSC and FTIR
are correlated with polymer microstructures. Hence, selective irradiation dose
could be determined with respect to the exposed state (solid or solution) of
polymer and utilized to tailor the properties of PEO.
