Abstract
Polyvinyl alcohol-Polyethylene glycol/Chromium oxide nanocomposite (PVA-PEG/Cr
2
O
3
NCP) was synthesized by means of the thermolysis and casting procedures. The NCP films were irradiated with various X-ray dosages (15–130 kGy). The resultant outcome of the X-ray irradiation on the structural and optical characteristics of the NCP films were explored applying X-ray diffraction and UV spectroscopy. The optical band gap, refractive index, Urbach energy and optical dielectric parameters were characterized and interpreted based on the X-ray dosage. The optical bandgap dropped from 3.91 to 2.7 eV for a X-ray dosage of 130 kGy, accompanied with a rise in Urbach energy of the samples. We attribute this to the dominance of crosslinking. Additionally, the color differences between the pristine and the irradiated samples were characterized. The pristine NCP film was uncoloured. It exhibited noteworthy color changes during the X-ray irradiation, as the color intensity reached a value greater than 5. This is an acceptable match in commercial reproduction on printing presses.