IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF POLYETHYLENE

Patent · Wed Jul 27 04:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4152822

The properties of polyethylene can be improved by irradiating it high- energy doses of 1O/sup 6/ to 1O/sup 8/ roentgens equivalent physical in the presence of a rubber accelerator or vulcanizing agent containing sulfur, selenum, tellurium, or a sulfonyl hydrazide, called bridging agents. Properties can be further improved by annealing in the presence of vulcanization accelerators, e.g., mercaptothiozoles, thiuram sulfides, guanidines, and selenium diethyl dithiocarbamate. Conventional antioxidants may be added. After irradiation in the above way, polyethylene shows increased resistance to flow and distortion at high temperatures, especially after annealing at 130 to 160 deg C for several hours. One important use of the method is to insulate electric components with foamed polyethylene which can be manufactured with blowing agents serving also as bridging agents, e.g.. disulfonyl hydrazides which decompose to furnish N/sub 2/ for blowing. The proportion of the bridging agent is usually around 1%, although 40% could be used for producing hard rubber-like materials. Three applications of the above method are given together with data on the mechanical properties of polyethylene treated in the above manner and of polyethylene treated in the same way but with no additives. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-14-024645
• OSTI ID: 4152822
• Report Number(s): GB 842873
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AMIDES
AMINES
ANNEALING
CARBAMATES
CATALYSIS
DECOMPOSITION
DEFORMATION
DIELECTRICS
ETHYL RADICALS
FABRICATION
FOAMS
GUANIDINE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IRRADIATION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NITROGEN
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLYETHYLENES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RUBBER
SELENIUM
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFIDES
SULFONIC ACIDS
SULFUR
TELLURIUM
TELLURIUM COMPOUNDS
VULCANIZATION
X RADIATION