Dielectric constant and loss factor measurement of polycarbonate, Makrofol KG using swift heavy ion O5+

Swift heavy ion irradiation (SHI) induces modifications in the electrical properties of polycarbonate (PC), Makrofol KG. This enables us to study the dielectric response of pristine and irradiated polymers for a wide range of fluence, temperature and frequency. The results are related to structural changes of the polymer. Actually there exist two kinds of phenomena namely chain scission and endlinking in heavy ion irradiation of polycarbonate at different energy densities. Structural changes are co-related using UV and visible spectrophotometer by measuring the absorbance as a function of wavelength. A plot of dielectric loss versus temperature at 1 kHz reveals two relaxations in the temperature range of 30-140 degrees C, which may be associated with pre-glass transition (beta), glass transition (alpha), and motion of the polymeric chain. Both the peaks show shifts to the low temperature side with increase of dose. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.