Energy transfer in gamma -irradiated solid pentane-2 methylpentane mixtures

Pentane-2 methylpentane mixtures have been irradiated in the solid phase at 77K. The trapped radicals are studied by ESR measurements and the dehydrodimers are analysed by capillary gas chromatography. A model has been developed for the quantitative evaluation of the competing growth of final products from each component. The results do not exhibit any transfer of chemical activation between the constituents of the mixture. The physical properties of the solid exert a subtle effect upon the processes initiated by the gamma -radiation.