Effect of gamma irradiation on high temperature hardness of low-density polyethylene

Pei Yun Chen, Fuqian Yang, Sanboh Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gamma irradiation can cause the change of microstructure and molecular structure of polymer, resulting in the change of mechanical properties of polymers. Using the hardness measurement, the effect of gamma irradiation on the high temperature hardness of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was investigated. The gamma irradiation caused the increase in the melting point, the enthalpy of fusion, and the portion of crystallinity of LDPE. The Vickers hardness of the irradiated LDPE increases with increasing the irradiation dose, annealing temperature, and annealing time. The activation energy for the rate process controlling the reaction between defects linearly decreases with the irradiation dose. The process controlling the hardness evolution in LDPE is endothermic because LDPE is semi-crystalline.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3486-3496
Number of pages11
JournalPhilosophical Magazine
Volume95
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Taylor and Francis.

Keywords

  • annealing temperature
  • gamma ray
  • hardness evolution
  • low-density polyethylene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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