Radiation Damage to Plastics

Abstract

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used polymers worldwide, valued for its attractive properties, including biodegradability and biocompatibility. These features make PLA suitable for various medical applications, particularly in the manufacture of implants and drug delivery systems. This study aimed to investigate the X-ray radiation damage in transparent PLA and PLA Copper Fill polymers fabricated as 3D-printed samples. The research focused on two main areas: first, calculating the dose to material based on the air dose and the associated mass energy absorption coefficients; second, experimentally examining the irradiated samples at different dose-to-air levels using optical spectroscopy to observe potential macroscopic damage. Results indicated a direct relationship between the absorbed dose to the material and the administered dose to air, with measured doses increasing alongside the air exposure. However, no visible damage was observed in the irradiated samples, and no correlation was found between the shifts in optical spectra and the levels of absorbed doses. Notably, PLA exhibited significant variations in optical transmission without radiation exposure. Although conclusive evidence of radiation effects on observed spectral shifts was not provided, the study aimed ambitiously to examine the potential damage that might occur when applying very low dose levels.