THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRYSTALLINITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN IRRADIATED POLYETHYLENE

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · J. Appl. Polymer Sci.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1961.070051606· OSTI ID:4833011

Levy, B

A procedure was developed for producing highly transparent polyethylene by using high-energy electron irradiation above the melting point. The polyethylene retains about 60% of its original tonsile strength after receiving the optimum irradiation dose of 50 Mrad at room temperature followed by 50 Mrad at 150 deg C. The transparency of a 0.02 in. sample increases from about 20% to 75% under this treatment. Changes in transparency with time and temperature, during cooling of the polyethylene from 150 deg C to various quench temperatures, were investigated as a function of irradiation dose. The increase in transparency is a result of reduction in crystallinity, in size of crystallites and spherulites, and in rate of crystallization caused by the restraints imposed by the radiation-induced crosslinking. (auth)

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., East Pittsburgh, Penna.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-002283
• OSTI ID: 4833011
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Polymer Sci., Journal Name: J. Appl. Polymer Sci. Vol. Vol: 5
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
BETA PARTICLES
CRYSTALS
ELECTRONS
ENERGY
GRAIN SIZE
HEAT TREATMENTS
IRRADIATION
LIGHT
MELTING POINTS
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERIZATION
QUENCHING
RADIATION EFFECTS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TRANSPARENCY