THE EFFECT OF RADIATION ON THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL-PROPERTIES OF POLYETHYLENE CONTAINING AN ANTIOXIDANT AND OR OTHER ADDITIVES

This paper describes the effect of an antioxidant, a monomer and fillers (silica or carbon black), alone or in certain combinations with each other, on the mechanical and chemical response of a low density polyethylene to exposure to ionizing radiation. If chain scission is a significant factor in the radiolysis of a polymer, then the relation between sol fraction and Young's modulus or ultimate elongation (both at 160-degrees-C) should change depending on whether an additive inhibits or enhances crosslinking. Such additives do not significantly or consistently alter the relation between these properties in a low density polyethylene, indicating that chain scission is not a significant feature of the radiolysis of this polymer.