Radiation Irradiation of Biomax® and Its Biodegradability

Biomax® was irradiated using electron beam (EB) or gamma-rays (γ-rays) in air or vacuum at 25 °C. Inherent viscosities, melting points, and melting enthalpies of the irradiated samples decreased with increasing irradiation dose, indicating that irradiation treatment degrades the polymer chain. The degree of chain-scission of Biomax® irradiated with γ-rays in air was higher than that irradiated with γ-rays or EB in vacuum because of oxidative chain-scission by oxygen in air. Biodegradability of Biomax® was promoted with increasing dose due to the decrease in crystallinity.