Diagnostics of radiation exposure of dielectrics by fluorescence techniques

We have examined the inherent fluorescence of epoxy resin and polyethylene samples exposed to radiation from a ⁶⁰Co gamma source. We find that the fluorescence intensity increases with radiation dose. There is also a significant change, in polythene in particular, of the shape of the fluorescence spectrum. Accordingly, we suggest that a fluorescence intensity ratio approach will be useful, as it is in diagnostics of power transmission cable insulation aging, to assess the aging of dielectrics in radiation environments