Title: Effects of high energy radiation and thermo-chemical environments on polyetherimide composites: futuristic approach to nuclear waste storage

Authors: G. Ajeesh; Shantanu Bhowmik; Venugopal Sivakumar; Lalit Varshney; Virendra Kumar; Mathew Abraham; Jayantha Ananda Epaarachchi

Addresses: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita University, Coimbatore 641112, India ' Department of Aerospace Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita University, Coimbatore 641112, India ' Department of Aerospace Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita University, Coimbatore 641112, India ' Radiation Technology Development Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India ' Radiation Technology Development Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India ' Gharda Chemicals Limited, MIDC, Dombivili, Mumbai 421203, India ' School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia

Abstract: This research highlights the effect of radiation, chemical and thermal environments on mechanical and thermal properties of polyetherimide (PEI) composites. The tests are conducted on specimens made from PEI and PEI reinforced with modified Carbon Nano Fibre (CNF). The specimens are subjected to gamma radiation doses of 5 MGy, which is equivalent to the cumulative dose of radiation from spent nuclear fuel until the end of complete radioactivity. The exposed samples are further subjected to highly corrosive and thermal environments. Studies under transmission electron microscopy reveal that there is a uniform dispersion of modified CNF in PEI. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) indicate that there are no significant changes in thermal properties of PEI and PEI composite when exposed to aggressive environments. It is observed that there is a marginal loss in the tensile strength of polymeric samples when exposed to gamma radiation and thermal environments. PEI samples when subjected to alkaline corrosive environments show significant loss in the tensile strength. There is a significant decrease in the molecular weight of PEI under alkaline corrosive environments as seen from Gel Permeable Chromatography (GPC).

Keywords: gamma radiation; high-performance polymers; thermo-chemical exposure; nano composites; gel permeable chromatography; thermo gravimetric analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2017.085091

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2017 Vol.11 No.1, pp.80 - 97

Received: 04 Nov 2016
Accepted: 07 Apr 2017
Published online: 10 Jul 2017 *

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