TIME DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFUSION-LIMITED OXIDATION PROFILES IN A RADIATION ENVIRONMENT

We have previously presented a quantitative model that combines diffus ion and kinetic expressions with chemical/mechanical property relation ships to predict the time development of diffusion-limited oxidation p rofiles in polymers. This model was shown to be applicable to thermal aging environments and should be generally applicable to environmental stresses for which total damage to the material is directly proportio n to total exposure time. In this work, we use a fluorocarbon elastome r to demonstrate applicability-of the model to ionizing-radiation envi ronments. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.