Influence of Gamma Irradiation on the Change of the Characterization of Elastomeric Polyurethane

Using gamma radiation technique, four characteristic changes were investigated to determine their effect on the surface morphology and physical properties of isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymers. The four samples of polyurethane put in flask vacuumed from air and exposure to four gamma irradiation doses from 0 kGy up to 150 kGy as mentioned above the first characterize changed was the crystanility which increased at the higher irradiation dose. This good evidence to show irradiation affecting on the network of irradiated polyurethane and the second characterize was swelling degree which decreased linearly with increasing radiation doses, and the third characterize was the surface shape which changed as observed by Scan electron microscope (SEM), the fourth characterize was the thermal properties which investigation by Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The characteristic changes of polyurethane clarify indicating that radiation crosslinking of (PU) was major.