Title: Radiation-induced changes in the microdestruction mechanisms in high-density polyethylene

Authors: M. Mateev, S. Karageorgiev

Addresses: Experimental Physics Department, University of Plovdiv, Tsar Assen str. 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria. ' Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Mendeieev str. 12.4000 Plovdiv. Bulgaria.

Abstract: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) samples irradiated by a Co⁶⁰ gamma source were investigated. The integration between the macromolecular structural units building the superstructural molecular organization was changed, although the degree of crystallinity and modulus of elasticity remained constant. Different types of microdestruction mechanisms were achieved in the irradiation interval (0-20) Mrad. These microdestruction mechanisms were a result of the radiation-induced formation of lattices, built out of macromolecular networks.

Keywords: electron microscopy; irradiation; microdestruction; morphology; high-density polyethylene; HDPE; crystallinity; modulus of elasticity; lattices; macromolecular networks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1995.036464

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1995 Vol.10 No.3/4/5/6, pp.389 - 403

Published online: 03 Nov 2010 *

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