Effect of oxygen on gas emitted from polymer irradiated using Swift Heavy Ion beams

At the end of their life, polymers used in nuclear industry are placed Intermediate Level – Long Lived Waste packages. For safety purposes, amount gas emitted by these organic materials has to be estimated. γ irradiations commonly simulate β and γ-emitters; α-emitters simulation more problematic because experimental difficulties. It is proposed France use particle accelerators with ions providing stopping power values equivalent one α-emitters. This approach been validated under inert atmosphere; question now arises effect presence oxygen. We showed that hydrogen release slightly affected atmosphere irradiation increases LET. The evolution LET CO2 dependent on polymer: it for low G(CO2) at decreases presenting relatively high