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Radiation effects of low refractive index, fluorinated methacrylate polymers for fiber cladding
Author(s) -
Bertolucci P. R. H.,
Harmon J. P.,
Biagtan E.,
Schueneman G.,
Goldberg E.,
Schuman P.,
Schuman W.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.10235
Subject(s) - materials science , methacrylate , refractive index , cladding (metalworking) , composite material , polymer , radiation resistance , glass transition , copolymer , irradiation , transmittance , methyl methacrylate , radiation , optics , optoelectronics , physics , nuclear physics
The gamma radiation stability, optical properties, and mechanical properties of 1H, 1H, 3H‐hexafluorobutyl and 1H, 1H‐heptafluorobutyl methacrylate homopolymers and copolymers were determined and compared to poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA. The aim of this study was to identify polymers for fiber cladding materials that exhibit improved optical radiation resistance and physical properties. Using 60 Co source, the samples absorbed 10 Mrads of gamma radiation at 0.04 Mrads/hr in an air environment. UV/Vis transmission spectra were obtained before irradiation, just after 10 Mrads, and regularly thereafter, to track recovery in transmittance. The glass transition temperatures, decomposition temperatures, refractive indices and flexural moduli were also obtained. Poly(heptafluorobutyl methacrylate) exhibited the greatest resistance to radiation induced discoloration and the lowest refractive index of the compositions tested. As the composition of the copolymers increased in hexafluorobutyl methacrylate concentration, both the radiation induced discoloration and the refractive index increased.