Impact of γ-Radiation on Photothermoluminescence of Polypropylene-CdS/ZnS Composites

Abstract

We have obtained polypropylene-based (PP) specimens of polymer composites with various volume fractions of binary compound based on cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide (CdS/ZnS). Their photothermoluminescence, photostimulated by UV exposure, was studied before and after exposure to γ-radiation. The photothermoluminescence (PTL) method revealed an increased concentration of local levels in the range of 500–600 nm of the semiconductor loading agent and in the phase-boundary layer of the polymer-loading agent due to impact of γ-radiation with doses up to 100 kGy. It was demonstrated that composites with the composition PP–(CdS/ZnS) 90 (10 vol %) are characterized by an intensification of relaxation processes at a temperature 300 K, which can be regarded as an improvement in the performance properties of the obtained composites. The radiothermoluminescence (RTL) method revealed an increase in the intensity of the RTL and PTL peaks due to introduction of binary CdS/ZnS compounds into the PP.