Gamma Irradiation Effect on Polymeric Chains of Epoxy Adhesive

Year: 2024

Authors: Ferrante C., Lucchesi L., Cemmi A., Di Sarcina I., Scifo J., Verna A., Taschin A., Senni L., Beghini M., Monelli BD., Raffaelli F.

Autors Affiliation: CNR, SPIN, Dipto Sci Fis & Chim, Via Vetoio, I-67010 LAquila, Italy; ENEA, FSN FISS, SNI Lab, Via Anguillarese, 301, I-00123 Rome, Italy; Ist Nazl Fis Nucl INFN, Sez Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; Univ Pisa, Dipartimento Ingn Civile & Ind, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, I-56122 Pisa, Italy; ENEA, Nucl Dept, GAM Lab, NUC IRAD, Via Anguillarese 301, I-00123 Rome, Italy; ENEA, Fus Phys Div, Via E Fermi, 45, I-00044 Rome, Italy; CNR INO, Ist Nazl Ottica, Consiglio Nazl Ric, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Florence, Italy; CNR, Inst Appl Math Mauro Picone IAC, Via Taurini, 19, I-00185 Rome, Italy.

Abstract: The study of materials for space exploration is one of the most interesting targets of international space agencies. An essential tool for realizing light junctions is epoxy adhesive (EA), which provides an elastic and robust material with a complex mesh of polymeric chains and crosslinks. In this work, a study of the structural and chemical modification of a commercial two-part flexible EA (3M (TM) Scotch-Weld (TM) EC-2216 B/A Gray), induced by Co-60 gamma radiation, is presented. Combining different spectroscopic techniques, such as the spectroscopic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS), and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), a characterization of the EA response in different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum is performed, providing valuable information about the structural and chemical properties of the polymers before and after irradiation. A simultaneous dissociation of polymeric chain and crosslinking formation is observed.The polymer is not subject to structural modification at an absorbed dose of 10 kGy, in which only transient free radicals are observed. Differently, between 100 and 500 kGy, a gradual chemical degradation of the samples is observed together with a broad and long-living EPR signal appearance. This study also provides a microscopic characterization of the material useful for the mechanism evaluation of system degradation.

Journal/Review: POLYMERS

Volume: 16 (9)      Pages from: 1202-1  to: 1202-12

KeyWords: epoxy adhesive; gamma ray; polymeric chains
DOI: 10.3390/polym16091202

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