EFFECTS OF GAMMA RADIATION ON AIRCRAFT TRANSPARENT MATERIALS. Period covered November 1956 to January 1958

Technical Report · Mon Mar 31 04:00:00 EST 1958

OSTI ID:4249397

Schmidt, D L

Additional data on gamma radiation-induced changes in commonly-used and experimental transparent plastic materials are presented. Eight materials of an acrylic or polyester type were irradiated to maximum absorbed energy levels of 10/ sup 6/ to l0/sup 10/ ergs per gram in a cobalt-60 isotope facility. The irradiated materials were then evaluated in accordance with standard testing procedures to determine which physical proporties were altered by gamma irradiation, the nature of these changes, and the magnitude of these changes. Results show that most of the plastic materials properties were affected by a high intensity gamma radiation environment. The principal effect was found to be that of degradation, but initial property improvements were also noted. This latter effect, was almost always followed by degradation upon continued irradiation. Comparative radiation stability data are presented on the various irradiated transparent plastic materials. Threshold and 25% damage dosages for the individual materials properties are reported. The optical properties of the materials were more susceptible to gamma radiation than were the mechanical, thermal or permanence-type properties. Threshold dosages were about 1 to 5 x 10/ sup 7/ ergs per gram for optical properties that change with ir radiation, and about 10/sup 8/ to 10/sup 9/ ergs per gram for other radio-sensitive properties. (auth)

• Research Organization: Wright Air Development Center. Materials Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
• NSA Number: NSA-13-015686
• OSTI ID: 4249397
• Report Number(s): WADC-TR-56-557(Pt.II); AD-1555
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACRYLATES
AIRCRAFT
COBALT 60
DECOMPOSITION
GAMMA RADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
POLYESTERS
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS ON MATERIALS
STABILITY