Effect of gamma-ray irradiation on the electrical and mechanical properties of epoxy/TiO2 nanocomposite

Epoxy with nano titania was used to prepare epoxy/TiO
2
nanocomposite. The impact of gamma radiation is necessary to understand the changes in the electrical and mechanical insulation properties of insulating materials, for its application in radiation environments. In gamma radiated samples carbonyl groups were found to be increased from the FTIR studies due to degradation of the nanocomposite. The dielectric properties of the nanocomposite materials are studied using the Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and found that the real relative permittivity is increased with radiation. A slight increment in the imaginary relative permittivity and tan delta is observed in the irradiated sample. Water diffusion studies show an increment in the diffusion coefficient with gamma radiation. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is performed to understand the mechanical behaviour of the materials. A decrement in activation energy and glass transition temperature with gamma radiation, is noticed.