Degradation of polycarbonates. IV. Effect of molecular weight on flexural properties

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Abstract
The effect of radiation dose and molecular weight on the tensile and flexural properties of polycarbonate, poly‐[2,2‐propane bis(4‐phenyl carbonate)], have been examined in detail. Tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus can be expressed as linear functions of radiation dose and are almost completely independent of molecular weight when the material is ductile. The strength of the brittle material (molecular weights less than 13,000) is however shown to be a linear function of reciprocal molecular weight. The effect of molecular weight on flexural modulus is also discussed. The presence of the equilibrium water content in the plastic has been shown to cause a fourfold increase in the rate of chain scission and an explanation of this effect is advanced.