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Radiation‐induced crosslinking of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers by means of electron beams
Author(s) -
Gao Chunling,
Li Shujun,
Song Hongbing,
Xie Liqing
Publication year - 2005
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.22360
Subject(s) - materials science , ultimate tensile strength , irradiation , elongation , composite material , polyethylene , absorbed dose , acetylene , swelling , ultra high molecular weight polyethylene , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , nuclear physics
Crosslinking of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers (UHMW‐PE fibers) is investigated by means of electron beam irradiation. The structure and mechanical properties of the fibers in different irradiation atmospheres are discussed. The results show that the gel fraction and crosslinking density increase with the increase of absorbed dose. The swelling ratio and average molecular weight of crosslinked net decrease with the increase of absorbed dose. The relation between s + s −1 of the UHMW‐PE fibers and reciprocal irradiation dose 1/R is obtained. The tensile strength and failure elongation decrease with the increase of absorbed dose, and the tensile modulus increases with the increase of absorbed dose. The samples are irradiated in air, vacuum, and acetylene atmospheres, separately. The radiation effects, such as crosslinking fraction and mechanical properties of UHMW‐PE fibers, are the most significant in acetylene atmosphere in comparison with in air and in vacuum. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1761–1764, 2005