Study of Gamma — irradiation effects on the Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Using (PAL) Method

Abstract

Gamma - irradiation effect on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) samples has been studied using Positron Annihilation Lifetime (PAL) method. The orthopositronium (o-Ps) lifetime τ₃, hence the o-ps parameters, the volume hole size (V_h) and the free volume fraction (Ꞙ_h) in the irradiated samples were measured as a function of gamma-irradiation dose up to 28.05 kGy. It has been shown that τ ₃, V_h, and Ꞙ_h, are increasing in general with increasing gamma-dose, to reach a maximum percentage increment of 22.42% in τ₃, 60% in V_h and 29.5% in Ꞙ_h, at. 2.55 kGy, whereas τ₂ reaches maximum increment of 119. 7% at 7.65 kGy. The results suggest that gamma-irradiation induces structure changes in PMAM, causing degradation in the main chains, and the presence of oxygen Causes reduction in the amorphous regions ; oxygen and the peroxy radicals form cross-linking at reactive sites between neighboring chains, giving a net reduction of the degradation yield.