Features of post-radiation oxidation of trapped radicals in high and low density polyethylene

Abstract The post-radiation oxidation of trapped allyl radicals in HDPE and LDPE films has been studied by ESR. The radical oxidation rate in the crystalline regions of LDPE is two orders higher than that in HDPE, due to the greater oxygen diffusion rate, owing to the lower density of the crystalline regions of the LDPE. In LDPE, peroxide radicals were formed whereas oxide ones formed in HDPE.