EFFECT OF NEUTRONS, ELECTRONS AND GAMMA-RADIATION ON GRAFTING OF BENZYLALCOHOL ONTO NYLON(6)

Grafting of benzyl alcohol onto nylon (6) polymer samples irradiated with Cf-252 neutrons, 1 MeV electrons and Co-60-gamma-rays was studied. Initially the percentage change in sample weight was found to increase with the time period of immersion of nylon (6) into benzyl alcohol, but later on had a tendency to saturate. For the same radiation fluence, the relative increase in sample weight was found to be maximum with Co-60-gamma-rays, moderate with 1 MeV electrons and minimum with Cf-252 neutrons, and also had dependence on sample thickness. These results are in accordance with the nature of defects created in polymer by neutrons, electrons and gamma-rays.