Influence of the irradiation conditions on the effect of radiation on polyethylene

• Published in: Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society Vol. 69; no. 12; pp. 1029 - 1041
• Main Authors: Kacarevic-Popovic, Zorica, Kostoski, Dusan, Novakovic, Ljiljana, Miljevic, Nada, Secerov, Bojana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Chemical Society 2004
• Subjects: carbonyl groups; crosslinking; hdpe; ldpe; trans-vinylene groups; vinylene groups; γ-irradiation
• ISSN: 0352-5139; 1820-7421
• DOI: 10.2298/JSC0412029K

Two types of polyethylene, low density (LDPE) and high density (HDPE), as well as low density polyethylene containing an antioxidant were subjected to ?-irradiation in the presence of air and in water. The irradiated polymers were studied using IR spectrophotometric analysis. The radiation induced oxidative degradation was followed through the formation of oxygen containing groups by the development of bands in the 1850?1650 cm-1 region and double bonds formation by the development of bands in the 1050?850 cm-1 region. The crosslinking efficiency was determined by measuring the gel content by extraction with xylene. The radiation induced changes in the molecular structure, evolution of oxygen containing species and formation, of vinyl double bonds as well as of the crosslinking efficiency are discussed in terms of the properties of the polymers in an electric field of low strength. Dva tipa polietilena, male gustine (LDPE) i velike gustine (HDPE) kao i polietilen male gustine koji sadrzi antioksidante su ozracivani ?-zracenjem na vazduhu i u vodi. Ozraceni polimeri su ispitivani IR spektroskopskom analizom. Radijaciono indukovana oksidativna degradacija je pracena preko nastanka grupa koje sadrze kiseonik u oblasti 1850?1650 cm-1 i preko nastanka dvostrukih veza u oblasti 1050 ? 850 cm-1. Efikasnost umrezavanja je odredjena preko sadrzaja gela koriscenjem procedure ekstrakcije u ksilolu. Radijaciono indukovane promene u molekulskoj strukturi, nastanak grupa koje sadrze kiseonik, nastanak vinilnih dvostrukih veza, kao i efikasnost umrezavanja su diskutovane u zavisnosti od svojstava polimera u elektri- cnim poljima male jacine.