Radiation induced effects on particulate composites from epoxy resin and fly-ash

In this paper gamma-radiation damages and effects on an epoxide matrix and on its particulate composite with coal fly ash have been studied; the curing of both formulations was carried out at room temperature by means of tetraethylenepentamine and of a tailored polyalkylenepolyaminophenolic product. The change on mechanical properties following the irradiation in air at room temperature has been tested as a function of the total absorbed dose. The chemical modification induced by the ionizing radiation on the matrices have been investigated by means of infrared spectrophotometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The high radiation resistance of the matrix and above all of the particulate composite suggests its use for the confinment of low and medium activity radwastes (nuclear or medical).