Changes to Electrical Conductivity in Irradiated Carbon-Nickel Nanocomposites

Abstract

Pre and post irradiation resistivity and XAFS measurements have been conducted to examine the effects of 0.5 MeV electron irradiation on nickel-carbon composites. Results showed a decrease in surface resistivity following irradiation and a corresponding decrease in NiO content for the irradiated samples as compared to pre-irradiation measurements and non-irradiated samples. Surface resistivity measurement capabilities were established and measurement techniques refined to produce repeatable results of sufficient precision to discern changes in resistivity for fluence levels of 2 x 10-16 cm-2 and greater. Measured changes in surface resistivity were found to be consistent with studies on the radiation effects on electrical properties of polymers similar to the epoxies used in fabricating the composites studied here. The materials examined showed changes of 30% or less following irradiation with 0.5 MeV electrons to a total electron fluence of to 4 x 1016 cm-2. The data showed no discernable link between irradiation changes to surface resistivity and epoxy type used.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA516937

Entities

People

  • David F. Coy

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Charged Particles
  • Composite Materials
  • Dielectric Polymers
  • Electrical Conductivity
  • Electrical Properties
  • Electron Irradiation
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Measurement
  • Radiation Effects
  • Spacecraft

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Reinforced Composite Materials
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics