ASTM D1879-06(2014)

Standard Practice for Exposure of Adhesive Specimens to Ionizing Radiation

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The procedures outlined in this practice are designed to standardize the exposure of adhesive-bonded specimens for the purpose of studying the effects of ionizing radiation, but have been made flexible enough so that a large variety of conditions may be met within the scope of this one irradiation method. Because of this flexibility in the procedures, it is important that the experimenter have some idea of the kind of changes that will occur, and of the conditions that will affect these changes.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to define conditions for the exposure of polymeric adhesives in bonded specimens to ionizing radiation prior to determination of radiation-induced changes in physical or chemical properties. This recommended practice specifically covers the following kinds of radiation: gamma or X-ray radiation, electron or beta radiation, neutrons, and mixtures of these such as reactor radiation.  
1.2 This practice specifies only the conditions of irradiation but does not cover the preparation of test specimens, testing conditions, or the evaluation of test. These are covered in the various ASTM methods or specifications for specific materials.  
1.3 This practice covers procedures for the following five types of exposure:
Procedure A—Exposure at ambient conditions.
Procedure B—Exposure at controlled temperature.
Procedure C—Exposure in a medium other than air.
Procedure D—Exposure under load.
Procedure E—Exposure combining two or more of the variables listed in Procedures A to D. Note 1—The problems of measuring the properties of materials during irradiation involve shielding and remote control facilities and are, therefore, not considered in this practice.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5.1 Electrical Hazard: Warning—The users of this practice must be aware that there are inherent dangers associated with the use of electrical instrumentation and that this practice cannot and will not substitute for a practical knowledge of the instrument used for a particular procedure.  
1.5.2 Radio Frequency: Warning—Persons with pacemakers may be affected by the radio frequency.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2014
• ICS: 83.180 - Adhesives
• Technical Committee: D14 - Adhesives
• Drafting Committee: D14.80 - Metal Bonding Adhesives

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D1879 − 06 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Practice for
Exposure of Adhesive Specimens to Ionizing Radiation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1879; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope cannot and will not substitute for a practical knowledge of the
instrument used for a particular procedure.
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to define conditions for
1.5.2 Radio Frequency: Warning—Persons with pacemak-
the exposure of polymeric adhesives in bonded specimens to
ers may be affected by the radio frequency.
ionizing radiation prior to determination of radiation-induced
changesinphysicalorchemicalproperties.Thisrecommended
2. Referenced Documents
practice specifically covers the following kinds of radiation:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
gammaorX-rayradiation,electronorbetaradiation,neutrons,
D618Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
and mixtures of these such as reactor radiation.
D907Terminology of Adhesives
1.2 This practice specifies only the conditions of irradiation
D1672Practice for Exposure of Polymeric Materials to
but does not cover the preparation of test specimens, testing
High-Energy Radiation (Withdrawn 1984)
conditions, or the evaluation of test. These are covered in the
D2953Classification System for Polymeric Materials for
variousASTMmethodsorspecificationsforspecificmaterials.
Service in Ionizing Radiation (Withdrawn 1984)
1.3 This practice covers procedures for the following five
E170Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements and
types of exposure:
Dosimetry
Procedure A—Exposure at ambient conditions.
E261Practice for Determining Neutron Fluence, Fluence
Procedure B—Exposure at controlled temperature.
Rate, and Spectra by Radioactivation Techniques
Procedure C—Exposure in a medium other than air.
E666Practice for CalculatingAbsorbed Dose From Gamma
Procedure D—Exposure under load.
or X Radiation
Procedure E—Exposure combining two or more of the
E720Guide for Selection and Use of Neutron Sensors for
variables listed in Procedures A to D.
Determining Neutron Spectra Employed in Radiation-
Hardness Testing of Electronics
NOTE 1—The problems of measuring the properties of materials during
E2005Guide for Benchmark Testing of Reactor Dosimetry
irradiation involve shielding and remote control facilities and are,
therefore, not considered in this practice.
in Standard and Reference Neutron Fields
2.2 ISO/ASTM Standards:
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for ISO/ASTM 51261Guide for Selection and Calibration of
Dosimetry Systems for Radiation Processing
information purposes only.
ISO/ASTM 51649Practice for Dosimetry in an Electron
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Beam Facility for Radiation Processing at Energies Be-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tween 300 keV and 25 MeV
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ISO/ASTM 51702Practice for Dosimetry in Gamma Irra-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
diation Facilities for Radiation Processing
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ISO/ASTM 51818Practice for Dosimetry in an Electron
1.5.1 Electrical Hazard: Warning—The users of this prac-
Beam Facility for Radiation Processing at Energies Be-
tice must be aware that there are inherent dangers associated
tween 80 and 300 keV
with the use of electrical instrumentation and that this practice
1 2
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D14 on Adhesives For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D14.80 on Metal Bonding contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Adhesives. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved March 1, 2014. Published March 2014. Originally the ASTM website.
approved in 1961. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D1879–06. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/D1879-06R14. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D1879 − 06 (2014)
2.3 ANSI Document: of the material segments. These rates are affected by the
N1.1GlossaryofTermsinNuclearScienceandTechnology mobility of the excited atoms (free radicals or ionized) which
2.3IEEE Documents: inturnisinfluencedbytemperatureandbytheconcentrationof
278Classifying Electrical Insulating Materials Exposed to the excited or ionized atoms.
Neutron and Gamma Radiation
5.4 The concentration of reactive species will vary with the
323Qualifying Class 1E Equipment for Nuclear Power
rateofabsorptionofradiation.Bothradiationexposureordose
Generating Stations
and dose-rate should be specified in reporting the results of
tests.The effect of dose, dose-rate and specimen thickness can
3. Terminology
sometimesbeobservedwhenirradiationsarecarriedoutinair,
3.1 Many terms in this practice are defined in Terminology
that is in the presence of oxygen, wherein oxygen reacts with
D907 and in Terminology E170.
radicals produced in the irradiated material. This oxygen
reaction is diffusion controlled. The reactivity of some irradi-
3.2 gray, n—the unit of absorbed dose when the energy per
ated specimens toward oxygen makes it necessary to specify
unit mass imparted to matter by radiation is one joule per
whether irradiations are carried out in air or in an inert
kilogram.
atmosphere. The accessibility to an air supply undepleted in
3.3 rad, n—the unit of absorbed dose when the energy per
oxygen should be assured if possible.
unitmassimpartedtomatterbyradiationis100ergspergram.
5.5 The localized concentration of reactive species during
–2
NOTE 2—To convert from rad to gray (Gy), multiply by 1.00 × 10 .1
irradiation will vary, depending on the type of radiation
rad = 0.01 gray and 1 megarad (MR) = 10 kilograys (kGy).
employed. The proton and carbon recoils from neutron bom-
bardment produce densely ionized tracks in the specimen
4. Significance and Use
compared to the diffuse ionization in the wake of protons or
4.1 The procedures outlined in this practice are designed to
electrons. The effect of different types of radiation may
standardizetheexposureofadhesive-bondedspecimensforthe
thereforebedifferent.Itisrequiredthatthetypeofradiationto
purpose of studying the effects of ionizing radiation, but have
which the specimen has been exposed be reported as well as
beenmadeflexibleenoughsothatalargevarietyofconditions
the irradiation dose in terms of energy absorbed units, that is,
may be met within the scope of this one irradiation method.
grays or kiloGrays (kGy).
Becauseofthisflexibilityintheprocedures,itisimportantthat
5.6 Various chemical structures respond differently on ex-
the experimenter have some idea of the kind of changes that
posure to radiation. The exposure levels for testing should be
will occur, and of the conditions that will affect these changes.
based upon the end-use of the bonded assembly and upon
5. Effects of Irradiation consideration of the chemical structure of the adhesive mate-
rial.Aromaticmaterials,suchaspolystyrene(PS),polycarbon-
5.1 Exposure to radiation can result in changes in
ates (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), tend to be
monomers, oligomers and high polymers, which owe some of
unaffected,intermsofphysicalproperties,bymodestradiation
their properties to chemical links formed within molecular
exposure. Materials with an abstractable hydrogen, such as
structures. These structures may be cross-linked by radiation
polyethylene (PE), will crosslink, with the radiation response
into insoluble, three-dimensional networks, may be cleaved
being very dependent on the specific morphology of a given
into smaller molecules, or unaffected by radiation exposure.
grade and its additives. Materials with tetra-substituted carbon
Crosslinking and cleavage or scission may occur at the same
atoms, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polytetra-
time.
fluorothylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC),
5.2 One effect of the reaction of ionizing radiation with
will exhibit scissioning and generally a weakening of physical
polymers is the formation of free radicals, atoms containing
properties. The exposure levels or cumulative dose should be
unpaired electrons. In some instances, the rate at which free
those which will produce measurable changes in a stipulated
radicals are formed may be much greater than their rate of
property rather than a specified fixed irradiation dose. Such
extinction. In a few instances, this can lead to trapped reactive
changes in property may progress at different rates, with some
species within the irradiated material and to the possibility of
materials changing rapidly once a change has been initiated,
continuing reactions for days or weeks after the specimen has
whileothersmaychangequiteslowly.Itisnecessarytherefore
beenremovedfromtheradiationfield.Becauseoftheselimited
to irradiate to several fixed levels of property change in order
post-irradiation reactions it has been found necessary to
to establish the rate of change (see 13.2).
standardize the times and conditions of storage between
5.7 Some materials that have been exposed to reactor
irradiation and testing of specimens.
radiation in terms of neutron flux may become radioactive.
5.3 The resultant changes in the morphology of polymeric
Thesecanbemetallicandotherinorganicadherendsandfillers.
materials caused by exposure to radiation can be dependent on
For exact work, where the reactor spectrum is being studied,
therespectiveratesofrecombination,crosslinking,orcleavage
exposure in a reactor would give the only accurate results.
6. Test Specimens
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
6.1 Wherever possible, use the type of specimens in accor-
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
dance with the ASTM test methods for the specific properties
Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE),
445 Hoes Ln., P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08854-1331, http://www.ieee.org. to be measured.
D1879 − 06 (2014)
6.2 Where it is not possible to utilize standard test sources having uniform radiation fields will not require tra-
specimens, make irradiated and non-irradiated specimens of versing the radiation field.
the same size and shape.
8.4 Aftertherequiredperiodoftime,removethespecimens
from the field and condition prior to test in the Standard
6.3 Since organic adherends may be sensitive to radiation,
they should be tested independently of the adhesive assembly LaboratoryAtmosphere (7.1), for no less than 16 and no more
than 32 h, unless it is necessary to store the specimens for
under the same conditions, using irradiated and non-irradiated
longer periods of time because of radioactivity or other
adherend specimens.
reasons. Report the time and condition of such storage.
7. Conditioning
8.5 Condition non-irradiated control specimens in accor-
dance with 7.1 prior to test in the Standard Laboratory
7.1 Condition specimens to be exposed in air in accordance
Atmosphere.
with Procedure A of Practice D618.
7.2 Condition specimens to be exposed in a gas other than
9. Procedure B—Exposure at Controlled Temperatures
air at the temperature of exposure in an appropriate container
−3
9.1 Follow the procedure outlined in 8.1 and 8.2.
at a pressure of 10 Pa (10 mm Hg) or less for at least 8 h
followed by three flushes with the gas to be present during
9.2 Irradiatethespecimensasdescribedin8.3atthedesired
exposure. After flushing, fill the container with the exposure
temperature. Place a dummy specimen containing a grounded
gas and seal it.
thermocouple in the radiation field at the same conditions as
the test specimens to determine the temperature. If the tem-
7.3 Condition specimens to be exposed in a vacuum at the
perature varies by more than 65°C, it should be reported.
temperature of exposure in an appropriate container at a
−3
pressure of 10 Pa (10 mm Hg) or less for at least 48 h. Then
9.3 Condition the specimens as outlined in 8.4.
seal the container from the vacuum system. Where increase in
9.4 After conditioning in accordance with 7.1, expose non-
pressure due to outgassing may be undesirable or where the
irradiatedcontrolspecimenstothesametemperatureemployed
outgassing products themselves may be undesirable, the
in 9.2 for the same period of time as the irradiated specimens.
vacuum in the container may be maintained by pumping
9.5 After treatment, condition the control specimens along
continuously during the irradiation.
with the irradiated specimens in accordance with 7.1 prior to
7.4 Condition specimens to be exposed in a liquid medium
test.
in accordance with 7.1 before placing in the liquid medium.
Immerse the specimens completely in the liquid during the
10. Procedure C—Exposure in Medium Other than Air
entire period of irradiation.
10.1 After conditioning in accordance with 7.2, 7.3,or 7.4,
7.5 Depending upon the type and energy of radiation,
irradiate the specimens as described in 8.3.
inorganic adherends may have a shielding effect on the
10.2 After removal from the medium, condition the speci-
adhesive bond. Because of this position the specimens so that
mens according to the procedure outlined in 8.4.
the shielding effect is uniform over all the adhesive layer.
10.3 The non-irradiated control specimens that have been
8. Procedure A—Exposure at Ambient Conditions
conditioned in accordance with 7.2, 7.3,or 7.4 shall remain in
the selected medium for the same period of time as the
8.1 After conditioning in accordance with 7.1, expose the
irradiated specimens.
specimens on suitable racks or in containers such that free
access to air is assured on all sides.
10.4 After treatment, condition the control specimens along
with the irradiated specimens in accordance with 8.4 prior to
8.2 When the radiation source requires that the specimens
test.
be enclosed in a container, package the specimens in the
Standard Laboratory Atmosphere (7.1).
11. Procedure D—Exposure Under Load
NOTE 3—It is likely that the composition of the atmosphere in the
11.1 After conditioning in accordance with 7.1, arrange the
container will be changed by radiation-induced reactions. Therefore, it
should be clearly stated in the report that the irradiation was ma
...