A study of the mechanism of decay of alkyl macroradicals in isotactic polypropylene

The kinetic data of decay of alkyl macroradicals in two temperature regions in isotactic polypropylene exposed to gamma radiation at 77 K were interpreted in terms of the model of diffusion-limited reactions at the activation energy level. The potential molecular mechanisms of transfer of the radical centres were tested from the point of view of their physical and/or chemical migration. Two mechanisms are suggested for the mutual approach of the centres in macroradical decay regions I and II in the amorphous zones of the matrix. Both of them involve the contribution of segmental conformational motions, the mobility of the terminal segments being of importance in region I whereas in region II the mutual nearing of the reactants proceeds in a relay way via intermolecular H-abstraction in conjunction with crank and crankshaft motions of the end and inner segments of the chain.