In a former life, I worked 13 years in Nuclear Effects engineering for a
defense firm and vulnerability of plastics to various levels of radiation was
a major effort, including degradation as well as enhancement of thermal and
physical stability due to ionizing radiation. The Nuclear and Space
Radiation Effects branch of the IEEE has a substantial library of papers on
this topic. You will probably be able to do a minimal web search to find
the specific info you seek. I believe Sandia (Phillips lab, etc.) has
done some research on plastics and radiation. The effects
depend on the type of plastic.
Examples of info: A few megarads crosslinks molecules of
polyethlyene, making it stronger. The same few megarads turn teflon into
powder.
*****************************
John C. White
Assistant Director
Radiation Safety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
*************************************
The above communication represents views of the author only. No
representation of The University of Texas is intended or implied.
*************************************
>From: "Guinn, Charles D"
>Reply-To: "Guinn, Charles D"
>To: "RADSAFE ListServe (E-mail)"
>Subject: Degradation of plastic from radiation levels
>Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 12:06:29 -0700
>
>Radsafers,
>Is there anyone out there who might know an approximate
radiation level that
>would cause the degradation of plastic (i.e., plastic bags)?
>
>Charlie
>
>Charles D. Guinn, CHP, RRPT
>Sandia National Laboratories
>PO Box 5800 MS0651
>Albuquerque, NM 87185-0651
>(505) 284-4027 FAX: (505) 844-8313
>
>