The present paper is a brief overview of aspects of the damaging effects of radiation on nuclear plant components manufactured from organic polymers. The paper briefly mentions some general nuclear plant applications of polymers, describes how the properties of polymers are affected by radiation, outlines some of the basic mechanisms which cause these effects, and explains how other environmental parameters, such as temperature, the presence of oxygen or other reactive chemicals, and the rate at which materials are irradiated, interact. Finally, procedures which are being developed to predict the behaviour in the long term from short term accelerated tests are outlined.
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