International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Research Applications and Utilization of Accelerators

4-8 May 2009, Vienna

Changes in Physicochemical, Morphological and Thermal Properties of Electron-
Beam Irradiated Ethylene–Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) as a Function of Radiation

B.R. Nogueirai¹, V.O. Angeli², and E.A.B. Mourai¹

i¹Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo, Brazil
i²Unipac Embalagens Ltda, R.A. Magniccaro, São Paulo, Brazil

Corresponding Author: eabmoura@ipen.br

In the present work the changes in physicochemical, morphological and thermal properties of electron-beam irradiated ethylene–vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) resin and EVOH resin reinforced with piassava (Attalea funifera Mart) fiber as a function of radiation dose were investigated. The EVOH resin was irradiated up to 90 kGy using a 1.5 MeV electron beam accelerator, at room temperature in presence of air. The changes in properties of the EVOH resin and of the reinforced EVOH resin after irradiation were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and sol-gel analysis. The correlation between the properties of the EVOH resin and of the EVOH resin reinforced with piassava fiber, both irradiated and non-irradiated sample, were discussed.

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