Radiation-induced transient darkening of optically transparent polymers

Journal Article · Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.337594· OSTI ID:5229635

Downey, S W; Builta, L A; Carlson, R L; Czuchlewski, S J; Moir, D C

Results are presented for the radiation-induced transient darkening of thin organic polymer films normally used as Cerenkov light emissions sources. The radiation source is a 27-MeV, 10-..mu..C, 200-ns electron beam generated by the PHERMEX accelerator. The typical dose for a single pulse is 5 Mrad. At this dose, the broadband time-resolved percent transmission above 520 nm was measured for four common polymers: polyimide (Kapton-H), polyethylene terephthalate (Mylar), cellulose acetate, and high-density polyethylene. Kapton was found to darken the most and polyethylene darkened the least. The recovery time to normal transmission for Kapton was found to be greater than 10--20 ..mu..s. The radiation-induced attenuation coefficient is shown to depend on electronic band energy separation. The results show that Kapton is not the material of choice for a Cerenkov light source.

• Research Organization: P. O. Box 1663, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
• OSTI ID: 5229635
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 60:10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ACETATES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
IMIDES
MYLAR
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
CHERENKOV RADIATION
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
MEV RANGE 10-100
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
BEAMS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
COLLISIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY RANGE
ESTERS
LEPTON BEAMS
MATERIALS
MEV RANGE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASTICS
POLYESTERS
POLYOLEFINS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
360406* - Materials- Polymers & Plastics- Radiation Effects- (-1987)