X-ray irradiation-induced structural modifications in PM-355 polymeric nuclear track detector film

Samples from sheets of the polymeric material PM-355 have been exposed to X-rays from a 50kV X-ray tube in the dose range of 10-300kGy. The resultant effect of X-ray irradiation on the structural properties of PM-355 has been investigated using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Vickers hardness and refractive index measurements. The results indicate that the X-ray irradiation of PM-355 in the dose range of 10-20kGy causes initially chain scission. Above 20 and up to 100kGy, the active free radicals produced from scission contribute to chemical reactions that lead to the crosslinking. Thus, the X-ray irradiation in the dose range of 20-100kGy leads to a more compact structure of the PM-355 polymer, resulting in an enhancement of its Vickers hardness and refractive index. Moreover, the irradiation in the dose range of 100-300kGy leads to the predominance of the degradation. This degradation is reported by FTIR spectroscopy and enhances the degree of ordering in the degraded samples as revealed by XRD technique. Additionally, it decreases both the Vickers hardness and refractive index of the PM-355 samples.