Study on application of PTFE, FEP and PFA fluoropolymers on radiation dosimetry

Changes induced by radiation in the UV–vis and Infrared absorbance spectra of fluoropolymer films were investigated. Samples (3×1 cm2) of commercially available fluoropolymers, tetrafluoropolymer homopolymer (PTFE–Tecnofluor/DuPont) and its copolymers with hexafluoropropylene (FEP 1000 C–DuPont) and perfluoroalkoxy (PFA 500 CLP–Dupont) were irradiated with 60Co gamma radiation in free air at electronic equilibrium conditions with absorbed doses between 1 and 150 kGy. Studies of environmental condition effects, such as temperature and light, pre- and post-irradiation stability and dose range useful response were carried out. Fluoropolymers are very stable when exposed to different ambient conditions; the dosimetric wavelength is characteristic for each type of fluoropolymer and a linear correlation was found between gamma radiation dose and optical response.