Effect of low doses of 14 MeV neutrons on polymers.
The structural modifications of polymers irradiated with 14 MeV neutrons were studied. Two elastomers, a polypropylene-type polymer and poly(ethylene oxide) were exposed to low doses of fast neutrons in the range of 0.3-14 Gy. The radiation damages were observed at the molecular scale by infrared spectroscopy. The morphological changes were investigated by steric exclusion chromatography, insoluble fraction measurements, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. It was found that neutrons provoked oxidation processes accompanied by modifications in the polymer architecture, including chain scissions, crosslinking reactions and changes in the crystallinity. Moreover, the conventional antioxidants were shown to be inefficient in inhibiting the aging of the polymers. These results also suggest that the radiation damages could be used successfully for dosimetry applications using an easily implementable protocol.
Rivaton
Agnès
A
Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, LPMM, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France. rivaton@univ-bpclermont.fr
Arnold
Jack
J
Dos Santos
Morgane
M
Bussière
Pierre-Olivier
PO
Taviot-Gueho
Christine
C
D000475:Alkenes / Q000737:chemistry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D016014:Linear Models; D009502:Neutrons; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
D000475:Alkenes; D000975:Antioxidants; D020724:Elastomers; D005030:Ethylenes; D011108:Polymers; C505585:ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer; C013658:propylene