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Title: Properties and structure of vapor-deposited polyimide upon electron-beam irradiation

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2186030· OSTI ID:20787982
; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan (China)

Vapor-deposited polyimide capsules from pyromellitic dianhydride and 4,4{sup '}-oxydianiline were irradiated with an electron beam that mimicked the {beta}-radiation emitted by tritium, a fuel that the capsules are to contain during the inertial confinement fusion process. The mechanical properties and gas permeability of the irradiated capsules were measured to examine their radiation resistance. Upon electron-beam irradiation at an energy of 8 keV and a dose of 120 MGy, the capsules showed 15% and 56% decrease in tensile strength and elongation at break, respectively, without significant change in gas permeability and Young's modulus. Analyses using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that the chain cleavage and carbonization occurred but were confined in a thin layer at the top surface of the capsules. The shallow penetration of the low-energy electron beam used, as well as the existence of cross-linking in the vapor-deposited polyimide, may have led to the smaller magnitude of property degradation in the capsules compared to that reported for solution-cast polyimide.

OSTI ID:
20787982
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 99, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2186030; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English