Ionizing Radiation and Polymers

The book Ionizing Radiation and Polymers: Principles, Technology, and Applications is a practical guide to ionising radiation – i. e. gamma ray, electron-beam, and X-ray radiation – and its effects on plastics and polymers, providing scientific and practical know-how to select and implement radiation-based technologies in applications such as coatings, sterilisation, electron-beam curing, laser joining, toughening, and radiation resistant materials. The book describes the types of radiations in general and ionising radiation in particular as well as some pertinent scientific principles involved and also covers the fundamentals of radiation chemistry.

It deals with the current types of equipment, designs, and typical uses with particular attention given to electron-beam machinery, processes, and processing of commercial polymeric materials. The book also summarises the industrial applications of ionising radiation and discusses radiation-resistant polymers and their uses. Furthermore, it describes measuring methods for ionising radiation as well as health and safety considerations. The current state of technology and trends are also summarised. In addition, the book features five appendices listing equipment manufacturers, standards and specifications, units used in ionising radiations and conversions, reviews of equations used in the text, and the 12 principles of “green” chemisty. A comprehensive glossary of relevant terms is also included.