Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀.

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀. 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆.

I keep noticing that radiation is often underestimated as a risk factor for plastics – until mechanical properties start to change and no one can quite explain why.

The process itself is well understood – but it’s not visible.

Depending on the environment, part geometry and radiation dose, polymer structures begin to degrade or cross-link. This can lead to embrittlement, loss of elasticity or even gas release.

With oxygen present, oxidative degradation is the most common outcome.

Without oxygen, degradation and cross-linking compete – and which one dominates depends on the details.

These changes don’t happen overnight. They happen gradually.

And that’s exactly what makes them so dangerous – because they often go unnoticed until the damage is done.

Anyone using plastics in radiation-exposed environments needs to be aware of these mechanisms.

Material selection alone isn’t enough. It’s about long-term behavior, boundary conditions – and the ability to design with foresight.

I firmly believe that those who take aging into account create real safety – not just in the material, but across the entire system.

source: Alexander Baart

#polymers #radiation #materialscience