Measurement of Radical Yields To Assess Radiation Resistance in Engineering Thermoplastics

Abstract

Radiation chemical yields for radicals were assessed for a variety of engineering thermoplastics following γ-irradiation under vacuum at 77 K and at a low dose rate. On the basis of these radical yields the radiation resistance of the polymers increased in the following order: poly(phenylene oxide), polyamide, poly(arylene ether sulfone), poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide), polyimide, and poly(arylene ether ketone). This order was similar to that found by other workers based on measurements of the tensile strength of the polymers following electron-beam irradiation of a high dose at a high dose rate.