Effects of γ irradiation on the compression and inter-laminar shear properties of G10 for the BESIII beam pipe supporting flange

Given their excellent electrical insulating performance and mechanical properties, G10 epoxy glass cloth-laminated sheets (G10) are used as spare materials for the supporting flange of the Beijing Spectrometer III beam pipe in the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II (BECPII). However, during BECPII operation, the beam pipe suffers a significant amount of γ and neutron irradiation. Studies have demonstrated that when the G10 is exposed to γ irradiation for a sufficiently long time, the material will become damaged, and its mechanical properties will change. In the present work, the compression strength and inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) of G10 samples were tested. Results showed that after 20 and 200 kGy γ irradiation, the compression strength decreased by 1.26% and 2.15%, respectively, whereas the ILSS increased by 16.17% and 17.95%, respectively. The micro-structural pattern of the samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The firm mesh structure of the epoxy resin matrix was destroyed, and the bonding interface between the glass fibers and the epoxy resin was damaged after γ irradiation. Some microcracks were observed in the glass fibers after γ irradiation. The epoxy resin before and after the irradiation was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that the degradation reaction was dominant during the irradiation compared with the cross-linking reaction in the epoxy resin, leading to the fracture of the molecular chain. The degree of binding between the epoxy resin also decreased.