Radiation stress, polymers

Radiation-induced decomposition, 5,6-dihydrothymine, 930 Radiation stress, polymers, 685 Radical polymerization dialkyl peroxides, 707 peroxycarboxylic esters, 697 Radicals... 

The first systematic study of the irradiation of polymers was undertaken by Dole and Rose during the period 1947-1949. These workers discovered that irradiation of polyethylene caused some degradation to low molecular weight products and the introduction of unsaturation in the polymer chains, but by far the most exciting discovery was that cross links were formed between polymer chains and this had a profound effect on the stress-strain curves and the colddrawing properties of polyethylene(57-59). In 1952 Charlesby(60) published the first of many papers on the effects of radiation on polymers. The rapid development of the field upto 1960 is reviewed in books by Charlesby (61) and Chapiro (62). 

Resonance Imaging (ESRI) technique. The shape of eoneentration profiles of the nitroxides accumulated in the equilibrium state upon filtered Xenon lamp-equipped Weather-Ometer exposure was interpreted in terms of the oxygen diffusion limited oxidation and radiation penetration in oxidation-stressed polymer surfaces. The data indicate differences in the character of the heterogeneous process in dependence on the polymer matrix and on the used stabilizer system based on secondary HAS and 0-alkylhydroxylamine HAS and/or HAS combination with UV absorbers. Imaging of nitroxides is a precise tool for marking heterogeneous oxidation of polyolefins. 

Q are the absorbance and wavenumber, respectively, at the peak (center) of the band, p is the wavenumber, and y is the half width of the band at half height. Liquid band positions ate usually shifted slightly downward from vapor positions. Both band positions and widths of solute spectra are affected by solute—solvent interactions. Spectra of soHd-phase samples are similar to those of Hquids, but intermolecular interactions in soHds can be nonisotropic. In spectra of crystalline samples, vibrational bands tend to be sharper and may spHt in two, and new bands may also appear. If polarized infrared radiation is used, both crystalline samples and stressed amorphous samples (such as a stretched polymer film) show directional effects (28,29). 

Reduction in properties of polymers under the mechanical stress in presence of radiation due to chain scission is also reported [63]. 

What will radiation during a test do to the stress relaxation of an elastomeric material if the radiation brings about chain scission Compare a cross-linked polymer with a high-molecular-weight uncross-linked one. 

Polymer materials are frequently used under stress loadings and these may be concentrated at certain parts of the structure. Thermal stresses may be induced by non-uniform heating or by differential expansion coefficients the latter may be an important factor in the degradation of fibre-reinforced composites in the radiation environment of space. 

Abiotic forces will not be in the focus of the discussion, but it is obvious that a polymeric material like PVAc or PVA exposed to outdoor conditions will undergo different alterations at the macroscopic and microscopic scales. Depending on its interaction with mechanical forces, thermal stress, radiation or chemical attack, the polymer properties might be changed in a way that is relevant for its interaction with biological systems. 

The information on physical properties of radiation cross-linking of polybutadiene rubber and butadiene copolymers was obtained in a fashion similar to that for NR, namely, by stress-strain measurements. From Table 5.6, it is evident that the dose required for a full cure of these elastomers is lower than that for natural rubber. The addition of prorads allows further reduction of the cure dose with the actual value depending on the microstructure and macrostructure of the polymer and also on the type and concentration of the compounding ingredients, such as oils, processing aids, and antioxidants in the compound. For example, solution-polymerized polybutadiene rubber usually requires lower doses than emulsion-polymerized rubber because it contains smaller amount of impurities than the latter. Since the yield of scission G(S) is relatively small, particularly when oxygen is excluded, tensile... 

PVC, another widely used polymer for wire and cable insulation, crosslinks under irradiation in an inert atmosphere. When irradiated in air, scission predominates.To make cross-linking dominant, multifunctional monomers, such as trifunctional acrylates and methacrylates, must be added. Fluoropolymers, such as copol5miers of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), are widely used in wire and cable insulations. They are relatively easy to process and have excellent chemical and thermal resistance, but tend to creep, crack, and possess low mechanical stress at temperatures near their melting points. Radiation has been found to improve their mechanical properties and crack resistance. Ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) has also been used for wire and cable insulation. When blended with thermoplastic polyefins, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), its processibility improves significantly. The typical addition of LDPE is 10%. Ethylene propylene copolymers and terpolymers with high PE content can be cross-linked by irradiation. ... 

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