Optical studies of pure and gelatin-doped poly(vinyl alcohol) films irradiated with fast neutrons

Abstract

The ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) spectra of pure poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and gelatin–doped PVA films with concentrations (2, 5, 7, 10, and 15 wt %) were studied before and after irradiation with neutron fluences in the range of 105–108 n/cm2. The obtained data revealed that the addition of gelatin and neutron irradiation causes structural variation in the PVA network. The analysis of the UV spectra showed that the increase of dopant concentration above 5 wt % gelatin makes the sample less resistant to a degradation effect caused by neutron irradiation. It was also found that the intensity of the band at 210 nm increases by increasing dopant concentration. Careful examination of the infrared spectra indicated that the induced percent crystallinity of the sample containing 5 wt % gelatin has more stability than the other doped samples. Neutron irradiation also results in the appearance of new absorption bands and irregular change in the absorbance of some IR bands. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1395–1406, 1999