Investigation of fullerene C60 effect on properties of polymethylmethacrylate exposed to ionizing radiation

Effect of fullerene C60 was investigated on thermal, mechanical and optical properties of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) under ionizing radiation. It was stated that fullerene C60 behaves as an effective antirad with respect to PMMA. Fullerene C60 addition raises temperature of destruction for polymer subjected to electron radiation by 20–25 °C, lowers the rate from 4 to 4.5 times and increases the activation barrier for radiated PMMA destruction reaction. Fullerene C60 addition promotes improvement of strength properties of PMMA: for films containing C60 addition and else subjected to electron radiation treatment a decrease in rupture strength is 10–15%, for samples containing no fullerene it equals ∼25%. Interaction of free radicals with fullerene at radiation treatment influences optical characteristics of PMMA films.