The Change of Mechanical Properties of Acorn Powder Reinforced Polystrene and Polyoxymethylene due to Gamma Radiation

In the present study, the effects of gamma radiation on the mechanical properties of acorn powder reinforced polystyrene (PS) and polyoxymethylene (POM) were investigated. Different amounts of acorn powder reinforced PS and POM samples were produced by using a plastic injection machine and these samples were exposed to 45 kGry gamma irradiation. Subsequently, the test samples were examined for the changes in their tensile, three-point bending and Izod impact strengths and the effect of gamma irradiation on the samples was established through comparing the findings with the pre-radiation state. With the increasing amount of acorn powder, the tensile strength of acorn powder reinforced PS and POM materials decreased. In contrast to the tensile strength, the bending strength of the samples increased with the increasing amount of filler material. In addition, an increase in the mechanical properties such as tensile and bending strength of materials exposed to gamma radiation has occurred.