Radiation dose rate effects in polymeric cable materials: Pt. 1

An experimental survey of dose rate effects in commercial cable materials has been carried out under the general guidelines of the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 544. In all of the polymer types tested, the tensile strength is dependent on the dose rate, degrading more rapidly with dose at the lower dose rate. In materials based on ethylene copolymers (EVA, EPR and EMA types), the elongation at break is not strongly dependent on dose rate. In other materials such as PEEK, crosslinked polyethylene and halogenated polymers, the elongation at break is strongly dose rate dependent, degrading more rapidly with dose at lower dose rates. (author)