Applications of High-Energy Radiation in Polymer Physics

Applications of High-Energy Radiation in Polymer Physics... 

High-performance fiber-reinforced composites are being used in diverse applications such as aerospace, nuclear plants, radiation equipment, and particle-physics generators. Because the polymers are exposed to high-energy radiation in most of these applications, the effect of radiation on the structure and physical properties of such aromatic polymers is of great interest. However, this aspect of PPS has not received considerable attention. 

Radiation grafting [83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89] is a very versatile and widely used technique by which surface properties of almost all polymers can be tailored through the choice of different functional monomers. It covers potential applications of industrial interest and particularly for achieving desired chemical and physical properties of polymeric materials. In this method, the most commonly used radiation sources are high-energy electrons, y-radiation, X-rays, U.V.-Vis radiation and, more recently, pulsed laser [90], infrared [91], microwave [92] and ultrasonic radiation [93]. Grafting is performed either by pre-irradiation or simultaneous irradiation techniques [94, 95]. In the former technique, free radicals are trapped in the inert atmosphere in the polymer matrix and later on the monomer is introduced into... 

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