An investigation has been made of graphite exposed to moderate doses (90 Gy-92 kGy) of beta irradiation from the point of view of applications to material engineering. The average energy of the beta particles was 196 keV. In STM images no significant modification Of Surface topography was observed. Irradiated samples reveal weak thermally stimulated emission (TSE) signal. Irradiation effects are also hard detectable in EPR and IR spectra. On the other hand, even small radiation doses influence high temperature Surface resistance characteristics in ambient air. This result Suggests an alteration Of surface properties under low irradiation doses. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.