Evaluation of radiation damage behavior in polyimide aerogel by infrared camera and photoacoustic spectroscopy

• Published in: Polymer testing 2020-05, Vol.85, p.106405, Article 106405
• Main Authors: You, Wu, Dandan, Ju, Yang, Liu, Huiyang, Zhao, Hao, Wang, Chengyue, Sun, Yiyong, Wu, Zhengli, Cao, Bin, Guo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Infrared camera; Irradiation damage; Photoacoustic spectroscopy; Polyimide aerogel; Specific heat capacity
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2020.106405

In this work, the optical absorption and thermal properties of polyimide aerogel have been investigated by Infrared Camera, ultraviolet–visible and photoacoustic spectroscopy under low energy proton irradiation. The characterization method of the infrared camera can obtain the optical absorption ratio, and meanwhile get the information of specific heat capacity. Moreover, it can acquire the nature information of damaged area rather than the overall performance. The results show an increase in optical absorption after proton irradiation, which is in good coincidence with Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy analysis. And the specific heat capacity decreased linearly with proton fluences, which can be attributed to the irradiation damage and carbonization in polyimide aerogel. The Raman spectra suggested the cleavage of chemical bonds and carbonization in polyimide aerogel. This work provides the novel, non-destructive and sensitive methods to characterize irradiation damage of aerogel. •The damage behavior of polyimide aerogel under proton irradiation was firstly investigated.•The damage behavior of polyimide aerogel was characterized by infrared camera and photoacoustic spectroscopy.•The infrared camera can obtain the optical absorption ratio, and meanwhile get the information of specific heat capacity.•The infrared camera can acquire the nature information of damaged area directly rather than the overall performance.