Interaction Parameters of Some Polymers Used in Nuclear Power Plants with Ionizing Radiation, Produced Secondary Radiations and Radiation Damages

Abstract

The primary interactions of polypropylene (PP), poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polychloroprene (CR) and polyurethane (PUR) polymers preferred in the nuclear industry with gamma and neutron radiations, secondary radiations formed after neutron interactions and damages given to polymers by these ionizing radiations are investigated. The gamma interaction parameters Were determined in the photon energy range of 0.03-20 MeV using WinXCOM, GEANT4 and FLUKA methods. Also, energy absorption and exposure buildup factors and Kerma parameters are calculated at different photon energies. To investigate the interactions of the studied polymers with neutron, the effective removal cross-section for fast neutrons with theoretical and the partial neutron rates passing through the studied polymer at 4.5 MeV, 100 eV and 0.025 eV energies are determined with simulation codes. The numbers of secondary gamma-rays and neutrons Were obtained with GEANT4. The Total Ionizing Dose and Displacements per Atom parameters are studied with the help of FLUKA simulation. It is observed that the interaction of PVC polymer with gamma radiation and PP polymer with neutron particles is higher than the others. The secondary radiation from PVC and CR is less. The PP, PVA, and EVA exhibit superior resistance to radiation damage.