title: Gamma-radiation induced changes in the physical and chemical properties of lignocellulose.
abstract: gamma-radiation induced effects on the physical and chemical properties of natural lignocellulose (jute) polymer were investigated. Samples were irradiated to required total doses at a particular dose rate. The changes in the parameters such as the tensile strength, elongation at break, and work done at rupture for the lignocellulose samples on irradiation with the gamma-rays from a cobalt-60 source were measured. The mechanical properties were found to have nonlinear relations with the radiation doses. The chemical stability of irradiated fibers was found to degrade progressively with the increase of radiation dose. Additionally, other chemical changes of the samples due to exposure to high-energy radiation were also investigated using fluorescence and infrared spectroscopic analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric studies showed a significant reduction in thermal stability. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction study showed that structural changes of cellulose appeared due to the radiation-induced chemical reaction of lignocellulose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Ordnance Systems, Defence Academy of the UK, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, Swindon Wiltshire, SN6 8LA, UK.
authors.forename: Ferdous
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kronfli
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008422:Materials Testing; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: C036909:lignocellulose; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin