The effect of gamma-ray irradiation on polycarbonate sheets

Abstract

In our study, we report on the effect of gamma-ray irradiation on four types of polycarbonate sheets. We used the panoramic gamma-radiation facility with 60Co source with applied doses from 1.38 to 100.50 kGy with the radiation dose rate 66.6 ± 6.3 Gy/h. To get knowledge on the needed properties, the prism coupling method was used for refractive indices measurement at six wavelengths (532.0, 654.2, 846.4,1308.2, 1549.1 and 1652.1 nm) and Sellmeier approximation with an infrared correction was used to estimate the refractive indices from 500 to 1700 nm. The transmission spectra were measured in the spectral range from 250 to 2150 nm and absorption coefficient and band gap Eg were calculated from transmission spectra. The chromaticity coordinates and influence of the gamma-irradiation were also studied. Our results proved that materials such as these can be used in gamma-radiation-exposed environments for optical components such as digital camera lenses, optical lenses, mirrors, prisms, optical waveguides, etc.