ESR and XRD investigation of effects induced by gamma radiation on PVA-TiO2 membranes

Abstract

The effects of gamma radiation on the local structure of PVA membranes containing TiO2 were investigated by ESR and XRD methods. An intense ESR signal is observed after irradiation at 16 KGy dose. This signal appears only for irradiated samples and it is associated with the breaking of the polymeric chain, followed by local reorganization of the polymeric segments and the apparition of the unpaired electrons and free radicals. The intensity of the signal decreases with the concentration of TiO2, indicating a shielding effect of the dopand. That the modification of local order of the polymeric chains has been modified after irradiation is confirmed by XRD method. © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.