Structure and Property Modification of Bimodal Molecular Weight Distribution Polyethylene by Electron Beam Irradiation

Polyethylene of bimodal molecular weight distribution was irradiated with an electron beam. The thermal and mechanical properties were examined by DSC, small and wide angle X-ray scattering and static tensile test according to the crystal morphology of the irradiated samples. The crystal morphology change upon irradiation, as revealed by wide angle X-ray scattering, correlated well with the changes in melting enthalpy, whereas the lamellar thickness and the amorphous gap thickness remained virtually unchanged at irradiation doses up to 500 kGy. Crosslinks in the crystal domains became evident at an energy level of 250 kGy, resulting in reduced crystallinity and crystal size of the (110) and (200) planes. The samples became stiff and brittle with increased irradiation dose, which seem to be more relevant to the amount of crosslinks than the crystal morphology changes.