This work describes the influence of ion beam irradiation on the electrical, structural and surface properties of polypropylene/glass fiber composite samples. Irradiations were conducted using 140 MeV Ag¹¹⁺ ions at the fluences of 1x10¹² and 5x 10¹² ions/cm². The modifications due to irradiation were studied using Ac electrical frequency response, UV - visible spectroscopy, X- ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization techniques. Considerable changes have been observed in polymer composites while varying the fluences. The ac electrical frequency response shows that the electrical conductivity increases upon irradiation. The observed behaviors of conductivity agreed with the charge transport model consistent with a hopping mechanism in the polymer. It is also observed that dielectric constant obeys Universal law of dielectric response at high frequencies. UV-visible analysis reveals a decrease in optical direct and indirect band gap upon irradiation at a fluence of 5x10¹² ions/cm². From the XRD studies, it was observed that amorphisation of materials due to ion beam irradiation. AFM analysis shows that the surface average roughness decreases due to the irradiation.

Keywords: Polypropylene/glass fiber composites; Electrical properties; Irradiation effects; XRD; AFM

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