Structural and optical modifications in gamma-irradiated polyimide/silica nanocomposite

Abstract

The structural and optical properties of thin films of polyimide composites with nanosilica particle content of 15 wt%, prepared via sol–gel process, were studied as a function of the gamma dose. The resultant effect of gamma irradiation on the properties of polyimide/silica nanocomposite has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and UV spectroscopy. Absorption and reflectance spectra were collected by a spectrophotometer giving UV-radiation of wavelength range 200–800 nm. The optical data obtained were analyzed and the calculated values of the optical energy gap exhibited gamma dose dependence. The direct optical energy gap for the nonirradiated polyimide/silica nanocomposite is about 2.41 eV, and increases to a value of 2.65 eV when irradiated with gamma doses up to 300 kGy. It was found that the calculated refractive index of the polyamide/silica increases with the gamma dose in the range 50–300 kGy.