Irradiation effects of radioactivity on the weldability and adhesiveness of polyethylene

This paper purports to inrestigate the effect of irradiation by Co-60 on the fundamental characteristics, weldability and adhesiveness of polyethylene.High pressure polyethylene films, 0.07 mm in thickness, were used in this experiment and exposed to various irradiation doses up to 5×107r under various ambient conditions. Measurements of degree of crystallization, resolution rate in xylene, wettability and others were made. These materials were welded with heated tool or bonded by various adhesives and then experiments on boniing strength were performed.The results are summarized as follows:Decay of crystal and change of degree of crystallization about irradiated polyethylene were not recognized within the ilmits of this experiment. It can be concluded that the increase of cross linkings due to irradiation makes weldability lower and carbonyl groups whose existences have been confirmed by infrared spectra analysis imdrove adhesiveness.