This work investigates the effects of gamma irradiation (0.1–10 kGy) on four Italian wheat matrices, such as durum, conventional soft, integrated soft, and biological soft wheat, by coupling Raman, FTIR-ATR and EPR spectroscopies to provide complementary insights into the structural, conformational, and radical-based transformations occurring in starch, the primary polysaccharide in wheat. As a general trend, gamma irradiation up to 10 kGy does not induce drastic degradation or depolymerization of wheat components. However, deeper investigations reveal that wheat composition is crucial in modulating the effects of gamma irradiation on structural and conformational rearrangements of starch units. Raman and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy analyses showed an increase in random coil fractions, with the most significant changes observed in durum wheat, plausibly attributed to its higher protein content. EPR analyses confirmed a dose-dependent increase in free radicals, with different recombination kinetics between wheat types influenced by their intrinsic composition and molecular organization. The proposed spectroscopic approaches allow for rapid and non-destructive analyses of molecular structure, chemical composition, and free radical content in irradiated wheat matrices with minimal sample preparation. These approaches can be extended in the development of screening methods for a wide range of polysaccharides in a variety of crops.

Ionizing radiations are responsible for bond scission, radical formation, and oxidative degradation of polymer matrices. This study focuses on the effects of gamma irradiation on solid propellant binders, targeting a comprehensive chemical and mechanical characterization of different formulations. Samples were produced either by conventional methods based on hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and standard polyaddition reaction using isocyanates, or innovative approaches involving UV-driven radical curing. The samples were irradiated for comparison and to study their evolution as a function of three absorbed doses (25, 45, 130 kGy) for preliminary characterization studies, using a 60-Co gamma source. Samples were irradiated in air at uncontrolled room temperature. The coupling of spectroscopy techniques (Fourier transform infrared—FTIR, Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance—EPR) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) highlighted the key role of antioxidant agents in tailoring mechanical changes in the binder phase. The absence of antioxidants enhances radical formation, oxidation, and cross-linking. These processes lead to progressively increased rigidity and reduced flexibility as a function of the absorbed dose. Complex interactions between photocured components largely influence radical stabilization and material degradation. These findings provide valuable insights for designing novel radiation-resistant binders, enabling the development of solid propellants tailored for reliable, long-term permanence in space, and advancing the knowledge on the applicability of 3D-printed propellants.

Several fields such as particle physics, space exploration, and high-energy physics, use Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) electronic components in a high-radiation operative environment. These operating conditions can cause significant damage to electronic circuits, affecting their operational features and thus the reliability of the entire facility. Qualifying and characterizing these components against radiation is essential to ensure their proper functioning in harsh conditions. This study investigates the effect of stress-testing electronic components used in high-radiation environments with various types of radiation sources. The components were exposed to gamma rays, laser-driven protons, conventionally accelerated protons, and neutrons, analyzing the devices parameters after different irradiation conditions. The results indicate significant degradation in electrical performance due to radiation-induced defects and significant variations of the effects at same dose delivery. We show that laser-driven proton irradiation achieves equivalent stress-testing with doses two orders of magnitude lower and much quicker than other radiation sources, demonstrating a much higher stress-testing efficiency.

This work investigates the effects of gamma irradiation (0.1–10 kGy) on four Italian wheat matrices, such as durum, conventional soft, integrated soft and biological soft wheat by coupling Raman, FTIR-ATR and EPR spectroscopies to provide complementary insights into the structural, conformational, and radical-based transformations occurring in starch, the primary polysaccharide in wheat. As a general trend, gamma irradiation up to 10 kGy does not induce drastic degradation or depolymerization of wheat components. However, deeper investigations reveal that wheat composition is crucial in modulating the effects of gamma irradiation on structural and conformational rearrangements of starch units. Raman and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy analyses showed an increase in random coil fractions with the most significant changes observed in durum wheat, plausibly attributed to its higher protein content. EPR analyses confirmed a dose-dependent increase in free radicals, with different recombination kinetics between wheat types, influenced by their intrinsic composition and molecular organization. The proposed spectroscopic approaches allow for rapid and nondestructive analyses of molecular structure, chemical composition and free radical content in irradiated wheat matrices with minimal sample preparation. These approaches can be extended in the development of screening methods for a wide range of polysaccharides in a variety of crops.

Wavelength-shifting (WLS) materials are used in radiation detectors to convert ultra-violet photons into visible light, enabling improved photon detection in systems such as scintillators and optical diagnostics for nuclear fusion devices. However, the long-term performance of these materials under radiation is still a critical issue in high-dose en-vironments. In this work, we investigated the radiation tolerance of three WLS com-pounds (TPB, NOL1, and SB2001), each deposited on reflective substrates (ESR and E-PTFE), resulting in six distinct WLS/substrate systems. The samples underwent gamma irradiation at absorbed doses of 100 kGy, 500 kGy, and 1000 kGy, as well as fast neutron (14.1 MeV) irradiation up to a fluence of 1.9×10¹³ n/cm². Photoluminescence and reflectance measurements were performed before and after irradiation to assess changes in optical performance. Gamma exposure caused spectral broadening in several samples, particularly those with TPB and SB2001, with Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) variations exceeding 10% at the highest doses. Neutron-induced effects were generally weaker and did not exhibit a clear fluence dependence. Reflectance degrada-tion was also observed, with variations depending on both the WLS material and the deposition method. These findings contribute to the understanding of WLS material stability under radiation and support their qualification for use in optical components exposed to harsh nuclear environments.