Discoloration effects of high-dose γ-irradiation and long-term thermal ageing of (U)HMW-PE
- Two polyethylene types with ultra high (UHMWPE) and high molecular weight (HMWPE), which are used as neutron radiation shielding materials in storage casks for radioactive waste, were subjected to gamma irradiation doses up to 600 kGy and subsequent thermal ageing at 125 °C for up to one year. One material was a medical grade UHMWPE and the other a HMWPE containing an antioxidant. Degradation effects in the materials were characterized using colorimetry, UV-Vis spectroscopy, MIR and FTIR measurements, DSC and, in the case of HMWPE, insoluble content determination. Both materials exhibited a yellowing upon irradiation. The discoloration of UHMWPE disappeared again after thermal ageing, which is why it was attributed to annealable color centers in the form of free radicals entrapped in the crystalline regions of the polymer that recombine during thermal ageing. Furthermore, oxidation species were observed with MIR and FTIR spectroscopy. For HMWPE, the yellowing occurred during bothTwo polyethylene types with ultra high (UHMWPE) and high molecular weight (HMWPE), which are used as neutron radiation shielding materials in storage casks for radioactive waste, were subjected to gamma irradiation doses up to 600 kGy and subsequent thermal ageing at 125 °C for up to one year. One material was a medical grade UHMWPE and the other a HMWPE containing an antioxidant. Degradation effects in the materials were characterized using colorimetry, UV-Vis spectroscopy, MIR and FTIR measurements, DSC and, in the case of HMWPE, insoluble content determination. Both materials exhibited a yellowing upon irradiation. The discoloration of UHMWPE disappeared again after thermal ageing, which is why it was attributed to annealable color centers in the form of free radicals entrapped in the crystalline regions of the polymer that recombine during thermal ageing. Furthermore, oxidation species were observed with MIR and FTIR spectroscopy. For HMWPE, the yellowing occurred during both irradiation and thermal ageing and was correlated to antioxidant decomposition. Additionally, black spots were observed after thermal ageing of HMWPE that were attributed to reaction products of antioxidant derivatives and catalyst residues. While only little evidence of oxidation species was found in the light material parts, oxidation is expected to concentrate in the black spots as the catalyst residue promotes hydroperoxide decomposition and thus radical formation that initiate polymer oxidation…
Autor*innen: | Anja KömmlingORCiD |
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Koautor*innen: | Emmanouil Chatzigiannakis, Volker Wachtendorf, Kerstin von der Ehe, Matthias Jaunich, Dietmar Wolff |
Dokumenttyp: | Posterpräsentation |
Veröffentlichungsform: | Präsentation |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2016 |
DDC-Klassifikation: | Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften und zugeordnete Tätigkeiten |
Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Angewandte Physik | |
Freie Schlagwörter: | Degradation; Gamma-irradiation; Polyethylene; Yellowing |
Veranstaltung: | Ionizing Radiation and Polymers Conference |
Veranstaltungsort: | Giens, France |
Beginndatum der Veranstaltung: | 25.09.2016 |
Enddatum der Veranstaltung: | 30.09.2016 |
Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments: | Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access") |
Datum der Freischaltung: | 01.11.2016 |
Referierte Publikation: | Nein |