Mechano-Chemical Properties of Electron Beam Irradiated Polyetheretherketone


Almas N. Kurbanova B. Zhakiyev N. Rakhadilov B. Sagdoldina Z. Andybayeva G. Serik N. Alsar Z. Utegulov Z. Insepov Z.
August 2022MDPI

Polymers
2022#14Issue 15

In this study, the mechano-chemical properties of aromatic polymer polyetheretherketone (PEEK) samples, irradiated by high energy electrons at 200 and 400 kGy doses, were investigated by Nanoindentation, Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Irradiating electrons penetrated down to a 5 mm depth inside the polymer, as shown numerically by the monte CArlo SImulation of electroN trajectory in sOlids (CASINO) method. The irradiation of PEEK samples at 200 kGy caused the enhancement of surface roughness by almost threefold. However, an increase in the irradiation dose to 400 kGy led to a decrease in the surface roughness of the sample. Most likely, this was due to the processes of erosion and melting of the sample surface induced by high dosage irradiation. It was found that electron irradiation led to a decrease of the elastic constant C11, as well as a slight decrease in the sample’s hardness, while the Young’s elastic modulus decrease was more noticeable. An intrinsic bulk property of PEEK is less radiation resistance than at its surface. The proportionality constant of Young’s modulus to indentation hardness for the pristine and irradiated samples were 0.039 and 0.038, respectively. In addition, a quasi-linear relationship between hardness and Young’s modulus was observed. The degradation of the polymer’s mechanical properties was attributed to electron irradiation-induced processes involving scission of macromolecular chains.

elastic constant , electron beam irradiation , hardness , nanoindentation , polyetheretherketone , roughness , Young’s modulus

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Department of Science and Innovation, Astana IT University, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Physics, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan
Surface Engineering Tribology Centre, Amanzholov University, Oskemen, 070020, Kazakhstan
Department of Engineering, Astana International University, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan
School of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, IN, United States
Department of Condensed Matter Physics, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Moscow, 115409, Russian Federation

Department of Science and Innovation
Department of Physics
Surface Engineering Tribology Centre
Department of Engineering
School of Nuclear Engineering
Department of Condensed Matter Physics

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