Irradiation Effects in KAPTON Polyimide Film from 14-MeV Neutrons and Cobalt-60 Gamma Rays
- 1 January 1987
- book chapter
- Published by ASTM International
- p. 669-681
- https://doi.org/10.1520/stp25682s
Abstract
Polyimide films are insulating plastic materials that are useful over a wide temperature range and the most radiation resistant of the polymers. In this paper, mechanical property changes of the polyimide film, KAPTON, caused separately by 14-MeV neutrons and by cobalt-60 gamma rays are examined in detail. Miniature tension specimens of 3-mil-thick film were irradiated at Rotating Target Neutron Source-II and at the Cobalt-60 Pool of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory at room temperature to a maximum neutron fluence of 1.6 × 1022 n/m2 and a maximum gamma dose of 8.6 × 107 Gy, respectively. Neutron fluences greater than 1 × 1021 n/m2 and gamma dose greater than 2.2 × 107 Gy caused a reduction in total elongation of the film. At our highest tested neutron fluence of 1.6 × 1022 n/m2, the elongation dropped to less than one-fifth and the fracture stress dropped to one-third of the unirradiated value. It was found that 14-MeV neutrons were about eight times more effective than cobalt-60 gamma rays in producing mechanical property changes when compared on the basis of absorbed dose. Color changes induced by irradiation were also examined.This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- Special purpose materials for fusion applicationJournal of Nuclear Materials, 1985
- Degradation behavior of fiber reinforced composites under irradiation by 3 MeV electronsJournal of Nuclear Materials, 1985
- Properties of polymers after cryogenic neutron irradiationJournal of Nuclear Materials, 1985
- Neutron irradiation effects on the mechanical properties of organic composite materialsJournal of Nuclear Materials, 1984
- Organic materials for fusion reactor applicationsJournal of Nuclear Materials, 1984
- Irradiation effects on the mechanical properties of composite organic insulatorsNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 1984
- Mechanical properties of organic composite materials irradiated with 2 MeV electronsJournal of Nuclear Materials, 1983
- Organic insulators and the copper stabilizer for fusion reactor magnetsJournal of Nuclear Materials, 1982
- Mechanical strength of low-tempepvature-irradiated polyimides: A five-to-tenfold improvement in dose-resistance over epoxiesJournal of Nuclear Materials, 1981