Showing posts with label PTFE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PTFE. Show all posts

Friday, October 20, 2017

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Polytetrafluoroethylene




Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Polytetrafluoroethylene


Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic polymer of tetrafluoroethylene. A sample of this material was left in intimate contact with a 1 microcurie radioisotope source of Cesium (Cs-137) for 2 weeks.



Control sample showing intact edges and opacity with minimal granularity





Irradiated sample shows unraveling of edges.



Gamma irradiation frees fluorine and depolymerizes (more accurately photoinduced polymer degradation: photolysis / photodisassociation) the PTFE into granules.

The gamma ray energies emitted by the radioisotope equal 661keV.




Control sample showing smooth, homogeneous surface and edges.