Effects of gamma radiation on dielectric properties of silicones

In radiation fields where reliability is essential, silicone insulation systems should be considered for electrical and electronic equipment. This conclusion is based upon a study of the dielectric properties of silicones during and after irradiation. The radiation source used in this study was a multikilocurie Cobalt 60 source which emitted gamma rays of approximately 1.25 Mev energy. Samples exposed to this radiation were in air at 25C. The duty cycle for this source was about 20 hours "on" and 4 hours "off" per day.