Luminescence center transformation in wet and dry SiO2

The main luminescent centers in SiO₂ films are the red luminescence R (1.85 eV) of the nonbridging oxygen hole center (NBOHC) and the oxygen deficient center (ODC) with a blue B (2.7 eV) and a UV band (4.4 eV). By means of a new “track-stop” technique we have investigated especially the initial luminescence behavior at the beginning of irradiation. Thus the blue-emitting center is produced under irradiation, but from existing precursors. Contrary to that, the dose behavior of the red (R) luminescence in wet and dry oxide is quite different, decreasing in wet oxide from a high initial level and increasing in dry oxide from almost zero. We propose a model of luminescence center transformation based on radiolytic dissociation and the reactions of mobile oxygen and hydrogen.     

EFFECT OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF PEO ON THE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF PDMAEMA/PEO HYDROGELS

A new kind of binary hydrogels composed of poly(dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with varying weight average molecular weights ((M)w = 5 × 104, 1 × 105 and 2.5 × 106) were prepared by y-irradiation technology. The properties of PDMAEMA/PEO hydrogels obtained were evaluated in terms of gel fraction, gel strength, thermal characterization and swelling behavior. The gel strength and swelling degree of the hydrogels could be improved obviously after adding PEO into the PDMAEMA system, while the degree of improvement decreased with increasing (M)w of PEO. The temperature sensitivity of PDMAEMA/PEO was retained only in the sample with PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104, and the pH sensitivity was retained in samples with PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104 and 1 × 105. When DMAEMA/PEO mixtures containing PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104 were irradiated, the main reaction could be the cross-linking of DMAEMA, and the linear PEO molecular chains could penetrate into the cross-linked network of PDMAEMA. With increasing Mw of PEO, some side reactions were induced, such as grafting of DMAEMA onto PEO molecules, the scission or cross-linking of PEO.     

PREPARATION OF NOVEL POLYETHYLENE-graft-POLY(4-VINYLPYRIDINE)-SUPPORTED METALLOCENE CATALYSTS FOR ETHYLENE POLYMERIZATION

Polyethylene (PE) grafting 4-vinylpyridine copolymers has been produced as powders of different rushes by theirradiation method. After treatment with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the copolymers were used as supports for Cp_2ZrCl_2catalyst Results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy andscanning electron microscope measurements show that the catalytic sites have been linked through MAO on the PE-graft-4-vinylpyridine (PEVP). The percentages of grafting 4-vinylpyridine and supported Cp_2ZrCl_2 depend on the size ofpolyethylene powder. The smaller the polyethylene powder, the more percent of 4-vinylpyridine groups and Cp_2ZrCl_2 existon the polyethylene chains, and the PEVP-supported catalyst has a relatively high activity for ethylene polymerization.     

Magnetic study of nanostructured zinc ferrite irradiated with 100 MeV O-beam

Nanostructured zinc ferrite of particle size 10 nm was synthesized by using the nitrates of appropriate cations and citric acid. This system was irradiated by 100 MeV oxygen beam with the fluence of 5×10¹³ ions/cm². The particle size of the system remains almost same after the irradiation. We observe decrease in magnetization of the sample after irradiation at 300 and 10 K. The nature of the σ-H plot shows the presence of superparamgnetic domains at 300 K even after irradiation. The blocking temperature decreases from 276 to 63 K after irradiation. The Mössbauer spectroscopy supports the presence of superparamgnetic domains at 300 K in both the samples. The decrease in magnetization after irradiation is attributed to the decrease in cation inversion and increase in canting angle as observed from in-field Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Composition and self-irradiation effects on the positron annihilation lifetime properties of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)

The behavior of the copolymer poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), with different amounts of vinyl acetate (VA) (2, 4.5, 9 and 19 w/w%, respectively), has been studied by performing positron lifetime measurements as a function of temperature. An overall reduction of the ortho-positronium formation probability I₃ with increasing VA content is observed. The copolymers with 2, 4.5 and 9 w/w% VA show a V-shaped I₃ evolution with temperature, caused by positron irradiation induced ionization, whereas the copolymer with 19 w/w% VA has become practically inert to self-irradiation effects.     

Oxidation of polyethylene under irradiation at low temperature and low dose rate. Part I. The case of “pure” radiochemical initiation

As part of a study on the kinetic modelling of polyethylene oxidation under irradiation at low temperature and low dose rate, this first part deals with the kinetic regime in which thermal initiation, linked to hydroperoxide decomposition, is negligible compared to radiochemical initiation due to polymer radiolysis. The kinetic analysis is based on results published 30 years ago by Decker, Mayo and Richardson. A small modification of their mechanistic scheme, consisting in the introduction of a non-terminating bimolecular combination of PO₂ radicals, leads to a more consistent set of radiochemical yield values. The most significant change is a decrease in the radiochemical yield of radicals G_i from 10 to 8. At 45 °C, termination of PO₂ radicals is not very efficient: 35-40% of the PO₂ + PO₂ encounters are non-terminating, 75% of the termination events lead to peroxide bridges, the rest is a disproportionation according to the Russell mechanism.     

Ion-beam irradiation of lanthanum compounds in the systems La2O3-Al2O3 and La2O3-TiO2

Thin crystals of La₂O₃, LaAlO₃, La_2/3TiO₃, La₂TiO₅, and La₂Ti₂O₇ have been irradiated in situ using 1 MeV Kr²⁺ ions at the Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscope-Tandem User Facility (IVEM-Tandem), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). We observed that La₂O₃ remained crystalline to a fluence greater than 3.1×10¹⁶ ions cm⁻² at a temperature of 50 K. The four binary oxide compounds in the two systems were observed through the crystalline-amorphous transition as a function of ion fluence and temperature. Results from the ion irradiations give critical temperatures for amorphisation (T_c) of 647 K for LaAlO₃, 840 K for La₂Ti₂O₇, 865 K for La_2/3TiO₃, and 1027 K for La₂TiO₅. The T_c values observed in this study, together with previous data for Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, are discussed with reference to the melting points for the La₂O₃-Al₂O₃ and La₂O₃-TiO₂ systems and the different local environments within the four crystal structures. Results suggest that there is an observable inverse correlation between T_c and melting temperature (T_m) in the two systems. More complex relationships exist between T_c and crystal structure, with the stoichiometric perovskite LaAlO₃ being the most resistant to amorphisation.     

Controlled free-radical polymerization of methyl acrylate in the presence of a cyclic trithiocarbonate under γ-ray irradiation at low temperature

Controlled radical polymerization of MA has been achieved in the presence of a cyclic trithiocarbonate, 1,5-dihydro-2,4-benzodiehiepine-3-thione, under γ-ray irradiation (60 Gy/min) at low temperature. The narrow molecular weight distributions and the linear kinetics curve indicate that the polymerization is a controlled free-radical process at low temperature (especially at −76 °C). The structures of resultant polymers were characterized by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and the results show that cyclic polymers can be formed at −76 °C, which may result from the reduced diffusion rate and the suppressed chain-transfer reaction at the lower temperature. It is further evidenced that the good control of the polymerization at the lower temperature may be associated with the suppressed chain-transfer reaction, not like reversible addition-fragmentation transfer polymerization. The linear polymers probably result from the polymer chain radicals reacting with the radicals produced by the interaction of the irradiation and the monomer.     

Photoageing behaviour of epoxy nanocomposites: Comparison between spherical and lamellar nanofillers

The photochemical behaviour of a nanofilled epoxy resin has been studied. It has been shown that the filler content increases at the surface with irradiation time. Qualitative stiffness and adhesion measurements compare the surface properties of the filled and unfilled samples upon ageing. Depth profiling has been achieved by AFM nanoindentation and micro-FTIR. These two techniques allowed comparing stiffness and photooxidation of the aged samples. Both techniques showed an influence of nanofillers on thickness profiles. The relationship between the oxidation process and its consequences on the physical properties is explained taking into account oxygen permeability and light diffusion. Additionally, it has been shown that, whatever the content (5-10 wt%), the nature (silica or different organo-modified montmorillonites) or the shape of the filler (spherical or lamellar), the photoproducts were formed in comparable proportions and at similar rates as in the pristine matrix.     

Irradiation ageing of CSPE/EPR control command electric cables. Correlation between mechanical properties and oxidation

In this paper, correlations between the elongation at break and the oxidation of chlorosulfonated polyethylene and ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) polymers in instrumentation and control cables irradiated at different dose rates are brought to evidence. During irradiation, the following phenomena are observed: an increase of oxygen consumption, a degradation of the mechanical properties and a reduction of the oxidation induction time (OIT) measured for EPR.

A correlation between the mechanical properties and the OIT of the EPR has only been established in the case of irradiation at low dose rate. This reveals a difference in the oxidative degradation process at low and high dose rates. This study shows the possibility to assess the ageing of electric cables installed inside nuclear power plants by OIT measurements.