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Radiothermoluminescence and transitions in polymers. Vol. 12 in the series polymers—properties and applications
Polyhedron Vol. 7, No. 8, p. 671, 1988 Pergamon Press Printed in Great Britain
plc.
BOOK REVIEW Radiothermoluminescence and Transitions in Polymers. Vol. 12 in the series Polymers--Properties and Applications. L. Zlatkevich. Springer, New York, U.S.A., 1987. ISBN 0-387-96407-X and 3-540-96407x, pp. 200 + xi. Radiothermoluminescence refers to the light emitted by a sample which has been irradiated with a massive dose of X- or gamma-rays (in excess of 1 MRad) at low temperature, as it warms up. The intensity of the light emitted varies during the warming-up period and this variation can be plotted as a function of temperature to give a “glow-curve”. This book is concerned with the interpretation of such glow-curves from polymers and critically considers their physical and chemical significance. It can be argued that “the easier the experiment, the worse the science”. This is because easy experiments require little forethought and planning, with the unfortunate corrolary that the results are difficult (or impossible) to interpret, the conditions and parameters that might vary having been ill-controlled. Radiothermoluminescence experiments are very easy to carry out and the author is to be congratulated on producing some order out of chaotic and sometimes apparently
conflicting results. By considering the probable processes that could most reasonably occur in a severely damaged polymeric solid on warming the bumps, lumps and peaks of the glow-curve are rationalized for many different samples. As proposed mechanisms can sometimes be supported by evidence from other types of experiment (e.g. NMR, dielectric spectroscopy) these techniques are also described. Other chapters show how radiothermoluminescence can be used to study molecular mobility in polymers and to analyse the different types of transition that can occur in solids, both crystalline and glassy, composed of long-chain molecules. The final chapter critically reviews the interpretation of radiothermoluminescence results from many different polymers. The book is well produced, with a clear and well laid out text that is free from errors and complimented by excellent diagrams. The style is clear and succinct. A book that brings a glow of light to an obscure topic. Department of Chemistry Queen Mary College Mile End Road London, El 4NS, U.K.
671
D. S. URCH
plc.
BOOK REVIEW Radiothermoluminescence and Transitions in Polymers. Vol. 12 in the series Polymers--Properties and Applications. L. Zlatkevich. Springer, New York, U.S.A., 1987. ISBN 0-387-96407-X and 3-540-96407x, pp. 200 + xi. Radiothermoluminescence refers to the light emitted by a sample which has been irradiated with a massive dose of X- or gamma-rays (in excess of 1 MRad) at low temperature, as it warms up. The intensity of the light emitted varies during the warming-up period and this variation can be plotted as a function of temperature to give a “glow-curve”. This book is concerned with the interpretation of such glow-curves from polymers and critically considers their physical and chemical significance. It can be argued that “the easier the experiment, the worse the science”. This is because easy experiments require little forethought and planning, with the unfortunate corrolary that the results are difficult (or impossible) to interpret, the conditions and parameters that might vary having been ill-controlled. Radiothermoluminescence experiments are very easy to carry out and the author is to be congratulated on producing some order out of chaotic and sometimes apparently
conflicting results. By considering the probable processes that could most reasonably occur in a severely damaged polymeric solid on warming the bumps, lumps and peaks of the glow-curve are rationalized for many different samples. As proposed mechanisms can sometimes be supported by evidence from other types of experiment (e.g. NMR, dielectric spectroscopy) these techniques are also described. Other chapters show how radiothermoluminescence can be used to study molecular mobility in polymers and to analyse the different types of transition that can occur in solids, both crystalline and glassy, composed of long-chain molecules. The final chapter critically reviews the interpretation of radiothermoluminescence results from many different polymers. The book is well produced, with a clear and well laid out text that is free from errors and complimented by excellent diagrams. The style is clear and succinct. A book that brings a glow of light to an obscure topic. Department of Chemistry Queen Mary College Mile End Road London, El 4NS, U.K.
671
D. S. URCH