| Abstract
| - The decomposition process of melamine exposed to a high-energy electron beam has been investigated bymonitoring the changes in the energy loss near edge structures (ELNES) using time-resolved electron energyloss spectroscopy. Calculations on different CN-containing molecules were performed in order to simulatethe experimental ELNES observed at the different decomposition stages and to identify some of the intermediatecompounds produced during this degradation process. As a result, we suggest that the amino groups are firsteliminated as a release of N2 gas. Then, the degradation of the molecule occurs through a reduction of thecarbon−nitrogen double bonds. If the irradiation is maintained over longer periods, the formation of differentCN fragments could then be possible.
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