Effect of Ionizing Radiation on the Physical Properties of HDPE used in Medical Applications

Abstract

The effects of γ-ray irradiation on the structure and optical properties of HDPE film have been studied. Gamma irradiation was performed with different doses ranging from 30 kGy to 150 kGy. The structure of the polymer was studied using X ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR) techniques, Scan electron microscope (SEM), thermal analysis and ultraviolet visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy. The effect of γ-irradiation doses on HDPE led to remarkable changes in the structure and physical properties of the samples due to chain scission, oxygen effects and crosslinking activities. The XRD results show the slight shift toward higher theta position (24.12ᵒ to 26.42 ᵒ) with no development new peak at sterilizing dose but at higher doses slight new peaks appear. The intensity ratios of the bands in IR pattern show the crystalline content ranging from 82% to 92%. Meanwhile, the optical properties show decrease of energy band gap from 3.97 to 3.84) e.v while increasing of refractive index and optical density with increasing the radiation doses. The results of thermal behaviour show increasing the value of melting and decomposition temperature with increasing the radiation doses, these behaviours attributed to the increase in spherulites size as we show in SEM