FOREWORD
In many industrial applications radiation processing has proven to be a technology of choice
either because of its economic competitiveness or its technical superiority. Although the chemical
effects of ionizing radiation have been known for more than a century, its industrial applications
became possible only after the availability of reliable gamma sources and powerful electron
accelerators during the last couple of decades.
The programmes of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in radiation processing are
implemented through the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications and the Department of
Technical Co-operation. The IAEA has been active in this field for many years, contributing to new
developments, training, promotion and transfer of technology. In September 1997, the IAEA held an
international symposium in Zakopane, Poland on the “Use of radiation technology for the conservation
of environment” where the status of current developments and of applications of radiation processing
in the control of environmental pollution was reviewed (IAEA-TECDOC-1023, 1998).
Recent developments and achievements in various aspects of radiation processing have been
assessed continuously through the organization of consultants meetings, advisory group meetings and
research co-ordination meetings. Worldwide growing interest in the use of radiation technology in
various new industrial applications, as exemplified by the reports and presentations made at these
meetings, has led the IAEA to organize a symposium to cover every aspect of radiation processing
and, exclusively, the emerging industrial applications of radiation technology.
The International Symposium on Radiation Technology in Emerging Industrial Applications
was convened in November 2000 in Beijing, China. Its main purpose was to bring scientists,
technologists, industrialists and regulatory authorities together with a view of exchanging information
and reviewing the status of current developments and applications, and discuss potential future trends
and developments. A further objective was to consider potential needs of developing countries in
terms of applied research in radiation processing and mechanism for promotion and transfer of the
technology. The scientific programme covered a wide range of different applications of radiation
technology, such as radiation processing of synthetic polymers, natural polymers, pharmaceutical
applications, hydrogels and membranes, environmental applications, process control, facilities and
international developments. The most recent developments in all these fields were elaborated by 52
oral and 25 poster presentations.
Two hundred and sixteen participants representing 32 Member States attended the symposium.
The IAEA gratefully acknowledges the generous assistance of the Government of the People’s
Republic of China and the China Isotope and Radiation Association, Beijing, in providing technical,
scientific and administrative support.
The IAEA officers responsible for this publication were O. Güven and A.G. Chmielewski of the
Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences.