Though it is a young branch of science, it can already boast of more than a few achievements.

    For instance, one of the most common processes in petroleum chemistry is cracking. As a result of this process the complex organic compounds contained in petroleum split down into simpler ones. Some of the hydrocarbons they form are those contained in gasoline.

    Cracking is a delicate process. It requires high temperatures, the presence of catalysts, and rather a long time.

    All this refers to the old way. In the new way cracking needs neither heat nor chemical accelerators, and takes much less time.

    The new way involves the use of gamma-rays. They carry out radiation cracking. They break down the complex organic molecules. Here radiation is a destroyer.

    But this is not always the case.

    If a flow of electrons (beta-rays) is trained upon light gaseous hydrocarbons - methane, ethane, or propane - the molecules become more complex, being converted into heavier liquid hydrocarbons. This is an example of radiation synthesis.
The ability of radioactive rays to "stitch" molecules is utilized in polymerization processes.

    We have all heard of polyethylene. But not all of us know that its production is a very complicated process, requiring high pressures, special catalysts and specific equipment. Radiation polymerization requires none of these and cuts the cost of the polyethylene in half.

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