OBSERVATION OF NANO SIZED PARTICLES IN PROTON IRRADIATED PM-355 POLYMER WITH X-RAY DIFFRACTION (XRD) AND MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES

The samples were irradiated by 5 MeV protons with fluence of 1.0 x 10(13) ions/cm(2), 5.0 x 10(13) ions/cm(2), 1.0 x 10(14) ions/cm(2), 5.0 x 10(14) ions/cm(2) and 1.0 x 10(15) ions/cm(2). A non-irradiated reference sample as well as irradiated samples were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The XRD study indicates the gradual increase in the intensity of the X-ray scattering with increasing proton ion fluence. The crystallinity, micro strain, dislocation density and distortion parameters were found to be increasing with fluence whereas the crystalline size(L) decreases to nano-sized particles at the highe proton fluences as compared to the reference. The generation of nanoparticles on the surface at the highest proton fluence have been further confirmed by FESEM morphology. It is believed that generation of nano particles on surface with Proton irradiation might be due to chain scission process. FTIR spectra also show changes in intensity of the typical bands after irradiation The results obtained from the present investigation can be used successfully in heavy ion dosimetry using well known techniques.