Structural modifications and track registration response of some gamma irradiated polycarbonate detectors

Abstract

Makrofol-E, Lexan and Polycarbonate detectors exposed to gamma irradiation in the dose range of 10¹-10⁶ Gy have been characterized by track methods and UV-Vis, IR and ESR spectroscopy. The track registration response is studied through variation of etching characteristics and the activation energy for bulk-etching at different doses of gamma rays was determined. Thermal stability studies were also carried out for understanding the effects of gamma irradiation on the thermal resistance of these irradiated polymers. The experimental results show that up to 10⁶ Gy gamma exposure the examined materials are rather gamma insensitive radiation hard detectors.

Keywords:

• Bulk-etch rate
• Track length
• Makrofol-E
• Lexan
• Polycarbonate
• ⁶⁰Co
• ²⁵²Cf
• Gamma dose
• Activation energy