The effect of the dose rate of ionizing radiation on the dielectric properties of polyethylene and polytetrafluoroethylene

The effect of the dose rate of γ-irradiation on the dielectric properties of LDPE and PTFE was studied. Measurements were taken for dose rates D= 10 -3 -1 Gy/s, and different irradiation conditions (air and vacuum). The dielectric losses (tan δ) of LDPE γ-irradiated in air increase with a decrease in the dose rate proportional to D -0.5 because of the radiation-induced oxidation reaction. For air-irradiated PTFE, the dependence of tan δ on the dose rate is determined by competition between the processes of recombination of primary radicals and their oxidation