Modifications of the thermal and molecular properties of a PADC polymer film induced by γ-rays

2^nd International Conference and Exhibition on Materials Science & Engineering

October 07-09, 2013 Hampton Inn Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Noura Saad, A. F. Saad and S. T. Atwa

Accepted Abstracts: J Material Sci

Abstract :

I Irradiation effects on the thermal stability, molecular and structural properties of a poly allyl diglycol carbonate (PADC) polymer have been investigated. PADC films were exposed to γ-rays at high doses ranging from 5.0×10 5 to 1.0×10 6 Gy. The induced modifications were analyzed using thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR) in transmission mode. The thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the PADC film decomposed in three main stages. The activation energy of thermal decomposition was determined using a type of Arrhenius formula based on the TGA experimental results. The FTIR spectra show a general reduction of intensity of the typical bands, indicating degradation of the backbone of the PADC polymer as a result of the γ-ray irradiation. The IR absorption bands for CO 2 were clearly observed. The absorbance rapidly increased, in proportion to the dose, up to 4×10 5 Gy, followed by a gradual decrease with increasing dose to 1×10 6 Gy. This decline in absorbance of the CO 2 bands might be explained by the diffusion of CO 2 at the higher irradiation rates during the long irradiation time. This study presents novel quantitative results showing that the exposed PADC films do not undergo continual further degradation from high energy γ-photons with increase in dose.

Biography :

Noura Saad has completed her B.Sc. in Physics (Major: Medical Physics) in February 2013 from the University of Benghazi, Libya. During her B.Sc. she did a research project under supervision by Prof. Saad, which was- the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the properties of polymeric track detectors. She currently started her M.Sc. research work on radiation-induced modifications of the thermal, structural and optical properties of a PADC polymer film based NTDs. She has two papers under preparation and will be submitted to the international reputed journals.