Radiation damage of polyethylene single crystals in electron microscopy between 1 and 2.5 MV. II. The influence of temperature

The critical dose measured for polyethylene single crystals at 2 MV is increased by a factor of 4 between 300 K and 20 K. Below 100 K the intermediate hexagonal crystalline phase was not observed. From these measures, the number of cross-links created, factor G, was calculated, and it appeared to be proportional to temperature. Finally, we propose a new model tempting to explain the influence of temperature on the critical dose. It follows the formalism of transformation systems and has the advantage to match to the real mechanisms as described by chemists