Study the induced-alterations by gamma irradiation in the compositional transformation, optical properties, surface morphology, and Vickers hardness of Makrofol TP 244

Gamma-rays with different doses ranging from 30 kGy to 450 kGy are used to induce suitable modifications of Makrofol TP-244. The induced changes are investigated using various procedures: FTIR, UV/Vis, Photoluminescence spectroscopy, SEM techniques, and roughness and Vickers micro-hardness testers. The FTIR spectra show aggregate variations in the band intensities after gamma irradiation, which indicate the scissioning and cross-linking of the polymer chains at particular gamma-doses. The UV/Vis spectra show that an induced change is detected in the absorbance edge after irradiation, which is associated with a decrease in the optical band gap energy. These changes indicate to the increase in the carbon clusters and increase in the opacity, which consequently improve the electrical conductivity of irradiated samples. The PL emission spectra indicate that the PL peak intensities reduce with the increase in gamma irradiation dose. The surface morphology and hardness measurements show an improvement in the sample surface after irradiation.