Radiation Effects In Polymeric Materials

​This book provides an introduction of how radiation is processed in polymeric materials, how materials properties are affected and how the resulting materials are analyzed. It covers synthesis, characterization, or modification of important materials, e.g. polycarbonates, polyamides and polysaccharides, using radiation. For example, a complete chapter is dedicated to the characterization of biodegradable polymers irradiated with low and heavy ions. This book will be beneficial to all polymer scientists in the development of new macromolecules and to all engineers using these materials in applications. It summarizes the fundamental knowledge and latest innovations in research fields from medicine to space.

Atomic Radiation and Polymers examines the effects of radiation on polymer materials. The title deals with chemical changes that took place when polymers are exposed to radiation, and how these changes affect the physical properties of the polymers. The text first covers the interaction of radiation and matter, along with radiation sources and dosimetry. Next, the selection deals with the general properties of long chain polymers. The text also details the organic molecules and irradiated polymers. Chapters 22 to 24 tackle the radiation-induced changes in nuclear chain reaction, while Chapter 25 discusses the irradiation of polymers in solution where both direct and indirect effects occur. The next series of chapters details the theoretical aspects of reactions between the initial acts of ionization or excitation. The last two chapters cover the conductivity change at low radiation intensities, along with the data on radiation damage at very high intensities. The book will be of great interest to researchers and practitioners from the field of nuclear science and polymer technology.

The topics covered in this book may be divided into radiation effects on polymers, test methods, radiation processing and other applications of ionizing radiation.

This text examines the effect of radiation on polymers and the versatility of its industrial applications. By helping readers understand and solve problems associated with radiation processing of polymers, it serves as an important reference and fills a gap in the literature. Radiation processing can significantly improve important properties of polymers, however, there are still misconceptions about processing polymers by using ionizing radiation. This book explains the radiation processing of polymeric materials used in many industrial products including cars, airplanes, computers, and TVs. It even addresses emerging "green" issues like biomaterials and hydrogels.

Radiation Effects in Materials, Volume 1: Atomic Radiation and Polymers considers the theoretical and experimental studies on the association between polymers and atomic radiation. The use of radiation in polymer science constitutes a powerful tool for the quantitative study of macromolecules. This book consists of 31 chapters, and starts with a brief introduction to fundamentals of atomic radiation and polymer structure. The next chapters focus on some aspect of atomic radiation, including radiation units, radiation-matter interaction, and nuclear and electrical sources of radiation. A chapter presents the appropriate methods to study radiation chemistry and polymer. Considerable chapters are devoted to the molecular structure, chemistry, and reactions of polymers. This volume also describes some significant chemical changes of radiation. Other chapters explore the properties and reactions of various irradiated polymers. The remaining chapters deal with radiation protection effects in polymers, which are processes wherein small changes in chemical structure within a molecule or in its neighborhood can exert a disproportionately large influence on the overall chemical reactions. This book is of value to nuclear and solid state physicists, organic and polymer chemists, and nuclear engineers and radiobiologists.

Here is the most extensive resource on polymer radiation effects to be available in more than a decade. This new volume reviews the fundamental chemistry and physics of polymer-radiation interaction and examines recent progress in most major areas of the field. Its 38 chapters, written by leading experts from around the world, cover: fundamentals of polymer radiation chemistry; technological applications of radiation to polymers (including radiation processing; radiation curing; sterilization; cross-linking, polymerization, grafting, X-ray resists, and others); and degradation of stabilization of irradiated polymers (including nuclear plants, scintillation detectors for particle physics, and others).

Biomaterials repair, reinforce or replace damaged functional parts of the (human) body. All mechanical and biological interactions between an implant and the body occur across the interface, which has to correspond as nearly as possible to its particular function. Much of the progress in adapting polymer materials for use in a biological environment has been obtained through irradiation techniques. For this reason the most recent developments in four key areas are reviewed in this special volume: (1) the analysis of the topology and the elemental composition of a functional surface, (2) the chemical modification of the surface which results in highly pure, sterile and versatile surfaces, (3) the sterilisation of implantable devices via ionising radiation and its possible effects on the structural mechanical properties of polymers, and (4) the radiation effects on living cells and tissues which are of particular importance for radiation protection and radiotherapy.