Neutron and. gamma. -ray irradiation effects in composite organic insulators

Conference · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6367613

Egusa, S; Kirk, M A; Birtcher, R C; Hagiwara, M

Neutron irradiations with low ..gamma..-ray flux in the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source were carried out on four kinds of cloth-filled organic composites (filler: E-glass or carbon fiber; matrix: epoxy or polyimide resin) and a unidirectional alumina fiber/epoxy composite. The mechanical test was performed at room temperature. Following irradiation at room temperature, the glass/epoxy and glass/polyimide composites degrade significantly at a total neutron fluence of 5.0 x 10/sup 18/ n/cm/sup 2/ (1.4 x 10/sup 18/ n/cm/sup 2/ for E > 0.1 MeV), while the other composites do not degrade at this fluence. Comparison of this result with that of /sup 60/Co ..gamma..-ray irradiations reveals that the /sup 10/B(n,..cap alpha..)/sup 7/Li reaction in E-glass fibers accelerates the degradation of composite materials by increasing the extent of radiation damage at the fiber/matrix interface. Following irradiation at 5 K, the present composites do not degrade up to a total neutron fluence of 1.0 x 10/sup 18/ n/cm/sup 2/ (7.0 x 10/sup 17/ n/cm/sup 2/ for E > 0.1 MeV). The mechanical test performed at 77 K on electron-irradiated composites, on the other hand, shows that the rate of degradation with dose is appreciably greater in the 77 K test than in the room-temperature test.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA); Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Takasaki, Gunma. Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Research Establishment
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6367613
• Report Number(s): CONF-841246-15; ON: DE85006214
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360306* -- Composite Materials-- Radiation Effects-- (-1987)
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700209 -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Component Development & Materials Testing
BARYON REACTIONS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EPOXIDES
GAMMA RADIATION
GLASS
HADRON REACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATERIALS
NEUTRON FLUENCE
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC INSULATORS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
ULTRALOW TEMPERATURE