Effect of gamma radiation on the structural and optical properties of Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) polymer

Effect of 1.25 MeV gamma radiation on the structural and optical properties of virgin and gamma irradiated (0–2000 kGy) Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) polymer samples are analyzed using powder X-ray diffractometer and UV–vis spectrophotometer. Diffraction pattern of PET polymer indicates the semi-crystalline in nature whereas the crystallinity increases with increasing dose of irradiation. The remarkable variation in crystallite size is also observed. The absorption and activation energy increase and the optical band gap (Eg) decreases with increasing dose in UV–vis studies. The existence of the maximum absorption, their shifting and broadening due to gamma irradiation in PET polymer are also discussed.

► PET is the transparent polymer and semi- crystalline.
► Crystallinity increases with increasing dose of irradiation of polymer.
► The remarkable variation in crystallite sizes was also observed in polymer.
► The absorption and activation energy increase and where as the optical band gap (Eg) decrease with increasing dose.