Effect of Gamma Radiation Dose on the Crystal Structure of the Ethylene–Tetrafluoroethylene Copolymer

Abstract

The effect of gamma radiation dose on the structure of an ethylene–tetrafluoroethylene copolymer has been studied. The copolymer powder has a triclinic crystal structure with space group P-1 and unit cell parameters of a = 8.84 Å, b = 5.34 Å, c = 4.90 Å, α = 99.11°, β = 85.84°, and γ = 90.89°. The coherent scattering region of the copolymer linearly increases from 4.3 to 6.8 nm with an increase in the absorbed gamma radiation dose to 2000 kGy. The degree of crystallinity of the copolymer decreases by 2.1% after irradiation with a dose of up to 100 kGy; after that, with an increase in the dose to 2000 kGy, the degree of crystallinity increases. The absence of significant changes in the crystal structure parameters of the copolymer after irradiation with a dose of up to 2000 kGy suggests that the copolymer crystal structure is resistant to radiation.