Modification of chemical, optical and structural properties of Bayfol CR-6-2 using gamma and neutron irradiation.

The effects of gamma and neutron irradiations on the chemical, optical and structural properties of Bayfol CR-6-2 were investigated. The samples were irradiated by γ-rays from a ⁶⁰Co source at various doses ranging between 16 and 900 kGy at room temperature in atmospheric air. For neutrons, an Am-Be neutron facility was used for the sample irradiation in thermal mode which had an activity of 185 GBq. Samples were irradiated with different doses of neutrons ranging from 15.7 to 564.2 mGy. The changes induced were analyzed using UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. The results demonstrated an occurrence of oxidative degradation, resulting in the formation of carbonyl groups at 1700 cm ^-1. Simultaneous thermo-gravimetric investigation (TGA) has been performed on the samples of 0.3 mm thickness. The results obtained indicate that cross-linking predominates at small neutron doses and main chain scission happens at higher doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]