Resumen
This work aimed to investigate the influence of ionizing radiation (gamma radiation and accelerated electrons) at commercial doses of 1, 2 and 4 kGy on optical properties of PVC films used as food packaging. FTIR was carried out for range of 4000 to 400 cm-1 by direct measurement. Polyene formation was measured with spectrophotometry at wavelength of 400 nm. FTIR of irradiated samples reveals reduction of absorbance of carbon-hydrogen (methylene) and carbon-chloride bands suggesting PVC scission due to dehydrochlorination reactions. Furthermore, polyene formation demonstrated increase on irradiated samples because of scission reactions on food-grade PVC films. This observation confirms polymeric radiolysis mechanisms promoted by gamma-rays or accelerated electrons.