Premium
The effect of gamma ray irradiation on the mechanical properties of large cross‐section oriented polyethylene rods
Author(s) -
Sangster D. F.,
Barry D. B.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1991.070420522
Subject(s) - crystallinity , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , polyethylene , composite material , rod , irradiation , amorphous solid , polymer , acetylene , melting point , creep , modulus , chemistry , crystallography , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , physics , pathology , nuclear physics
The effect of gamma irradiation, in acetylene, on large diameter oriented polyethylene has been investigated. The dependency of gel content, melting point, and crystallinity on dose was evaluated. The gel content dose relationship showed two regions, indicating that an effective network is formed at low doses, 60 kGy. Irradiating the oriented rod in acetylene was found to more than double the initial tensile modulus. This improvement in the tensile properties resulted in improved creep–strain resistance for the material. These improvements in the mechanical properties were attributed to crosslinks formed both in the amorphous regions and at the surfaces of the crystalline regions. At high does > 180 kGy degradation of the oriented polymer resulted in a deterioration in mechanical properties.