Radiation Induced Polymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide Polymer Gel Characterized by Raman Laser

Abstract

Radiation dosimeter is a device that can quantify the amount of a dose. One type of chemical dosimeter is known as a polymer gel dosimeter that is capable of measuring 3D dose distribution. Thus, this work aims to synthesize N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) polymer gel and study the effect of NIPAM monomer and N, N’-methylene-bis-acrylamide (BIS) crosslinker concentrations on the polymerization of NIPAM polymer, and NIPAM and BIS consumptions in gelatin matrix induced by gamma rays at dose between 0 to 21 Gy. The dose response of irradiated NIPAM polymer gel was determined using Raman spectroscopy. Raman peak intensities were identified in the samples at 815 cm−1 assigned bonding for C-C of NIPAM polymer gel, 1025 cm−1 assigned bonding for C=C of NIPAM and 2353 cm−1 bonding for C=C of BIS. The result shows that the intensity of carbon covalent bonds decreases, while the intensity of carbon single bonds increases after the irradiation process.