The Effects of Gamma Radiation on Cotton

Abstract

The interaction of high-energy radiation with cellulose, which leads to the formation of free radicals, excited atoms, or chemical groups, gave decreased intermolecular bond ing. This decreased bonding was probably due to the decreased number of interacting anhydroglucose units per molecule. The enthalpy of activation of viscous flow of dilute solutions of purified and irradiated cottons was relatively constant. The entropy of activation of viscous flow was negative and directly related to the molecular weight of the celluloses. Consequently, the free energy of activation of viscous flow for dilute solutions of irradiated cottons was less than for purified cotton. This indicated decreased intermolecular bondi ng in the irradiated cottons as compared with purified cotton.