Dielectric relaxation and ac conduction in γ-irradiated UHMWPE/MWCNTs nano composites: Impedance spectroscopy analysis

The dielectric behavior of γ-irradiated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and its nano composites (NCs) with γ-ray modified multi wall carbon nano tubes (γ-MWCNTs) and MWCNTs had been studied using impedance spectroscopy. The study had been carried out in the frequency range of 20-2 MHz at room temperature. All samples (pure and NCs) were prepared in the form of sheets and irradiated with γ-dose of 50 kGy and 100 kGy, respectively. The comprehensive analysis of results revealed that resistivity of UHMWPE for conduction decreased on irradiation and incorporation of MWCNTs (whether γ ray modified or un-modified) due to the radiation induced damage and conductive networks induced by MWCNTs. At low frequency range a significant increase in the dielectric constant had been observed because of irradiation and addition of MWNCTs. The trend of loss tangent and ac conductivity for each investigated sample depended on resistivity offered and had a decreasing trend as a function of frequency. Moreover, dissipation factor increased with the incorporation of MWNCTs and irradiation from 0.12 to 0.22. In addition to this, non-frequency dependent static dielectric constant was also found to increase with irradiation and incorporation of MWCNTs. The relaxation time was found to increase from 1.2 to 4.3 ms due to hindrance offered by radiation induced mutual cross linking of PE chains and polymer-MWNCTs bindings.