Jumplike deformation of γ-irradiated polymethyl methacrylate

Nonuniformity of the microdeformation rate and the parameters of microdeformation jumps were studied in the creep regime for a polymethyl methacrylate irradiated by various dozes of the Co-60 γ radiation. The creep rate during compression of the polymethyl methacrylate was measured by an interferogram on 300-nm deformation increments. It is shown that the periods L of rate oscillations (jumps of deformation) on three scale levels are dependent on the irradiation doze and are also changed after prolonged exposure of samples in air. In the doze range 0 to 330 kGy, both a decrease and an increase in L are observed, which corresponds to the unstable kinetics of radiation chemical processes. The deformation jumps permit estimates of the radiation effect on various structural levels. It is concluded that the effect of radiation on coarser microstructural formations is the largest.