Swelling for radiation cross-linked polymethylene

Utilization of PE where shape stability with heat is a pre-requisite, necessitates cross-linking. The degree of cross-linking can be determined as known in various ways. The author reports on swelling investigations on radiation cross-linked PE in benzone and xylene. The molekular weight between two cross-linkage positions was thus calculated from the obtained swelling values using Flory's theory. The different course of cross-linking of pure PE and PE with a slight addition of certain monomers is discussed. (orig.)