X-ray investigations of proton irradiation induced structure development in polyester fibers

The role of proton irradiation on the structural changes in partially crystalline poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres has been investigated using a wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Experimental data about the influence of the exposure dose and the irradiation conditions in the processes of destruction and crosslinking in the irradiated objects have been obtained. The structural changes and the packing density of the macromolecular chain segments of the poly (ethylene terephthalate) filaments irradiated with different doses have been analyzed. A mechanism of the structural reorganization initiated by the irradiation has been supposed on the basis of the changes in the geometry of the intensity distribution of the X-ray diffraction patterns of the studied objects.