<i>γ</i>-Ray Modifications of Optical/Chemical Properties of Polycarbonate Polymer

Abstract

This work was aimed to investigate the changes brought about in the polymer polycarbonate irradiated to different doses of γ -radiation. Yellowing of the samples with the increase of γ -absorbed dose was observed. The changes in the optical properties were studied by recording UV-Visible absorbance spectra of the pristine and irradiated polycarbonate films. A simultaneous coexistence of direct and indirect band gaps was observed. The indirect band gap values were found lower in comparison to the corresponding values of direct band gap in the pristine and γ -irradiated poly-carbonate. Both types of the optical band gap energies had decreasing tendency with the increasing γ -radiation dose. Urbach energy was also determined from the tail of absorption edge which was found to have increasing tendency with progressive γ -radiation dose. Increase in carbon cluster size with the increasing γ absorbed dose was also shown. This increase in the number of carbon atoms ( N ) in a cluster can be correlated to the optical energy band gap ( E g ). Moreover, the FTIR spectra of pristine and irradiated PC samples suggest chain scissoring with apparently the elimination of carbon di/monoxide.