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RADIATION MEASUREMENTS: COMPARISON OF RADIOLYSIS EFFECTS OF COBALT-60 GAMMA RAYS AND 3-6 Mev ELECTRONS ON NITRIL SYSTEMS

Journal Article · · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Acetonitrile was irradiated with Co/sup 60/ at 0.4to 0.7 megarads per hr and in a linear accelerator at 3.5 to 4 Mev. Radiolysis product identities and yields were determined by a combination of infrared, low, and high mass, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, by gas chromatography, and by CN analysis. Purified acetonitrile was found to make a satisfactory dosimeter over the range examined, 1 x 10/sup 6/ to 6.5 x 10/sup 8/ rads. The weight per cent yield of CN is an exponential function of total dose in megarads, as given by: CN = (0.005) (Dose)/sup 0.8245/. The principal gaseous products are H/sub 2/ (G =- 0.58) and CH/sub 4/ (G = 0.83), with minor yields of NH/sub 3/, C/sub 2/H/sub 6/, C/sub 2/H/sub 2/, N/sub 2/, HCN, C/ sub 3/H/sub 8/, and C/sub 6/H/sub 10/. Identified heavier products are C/sub 2/, Ca, and C/sub 4/ aliphatic nitriles, succinonitrile, malononitrile, and acetonitrile dimer (3-iminobutyronitrile). A complex polymer (G = 8) contains imine or amine and nitrile groups, the C-H-N proportions approach (CH/sub 3/CN)/sub x/, and the measured CN yield used in dosimetry is largely contained in the polymer. The high instantaneous dose-rate electron beam was not significantly different in its action from gamma radiation, as judged by hydrogen and CN yields. (P.C.H.)

Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-18-005364
OSTI ID:
4132502
Journal Information:
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (U.S.), Journal Name: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 105; ISSN ANYAA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English