GAMMA-IRRADIATION EFFECTS ON THE THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION INDUCTION PERIOD IN HEXAMMINE COBALT(III) CHLORIDE

The effects of pre irradiation with gamma-ray prior to thermal decomposition on the induction period of hexammine cobaldt (III) chloride have been investigated. The results indicated that the induction period of the investigated salt is shortened by exposure to gamma-irradiation. Specifically the induction period I is related to the radiation dose by the equation I = C1 + C2 log PHI, where C1 and C2 are constants. It is concluded that pre-exposure to ionizing radiation increases the number of nuclei that are active in salt breakdown in direct proportion to the gamma-dose to which the sample had previously been exposed.