Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.34, No.13, 2743-2751, 1996
Radiation-Induced Changes in the Microdestruction Mechanisms in High-Density Polyethylene
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) samples irradiated by Co-60 gamma source have been investigated. The integration between the macromolecular structural units building the supermolecular structural organization is changed and different microdestruction mechanisms are achieved in the irradiation interval (0-20 Mrad). These microdestruction mechanisms are a result of specific radiation-induced crosslinking for the different irradiation doses. The crosslinking unites the primary structural units into macromolecular networks and lattices, which have a different effect upon the micro- and macrocharacteristics of the polymer, i.e., local micro-Brownian mobility, elongation at break, etc.