IRRADIATION OF LOW-DENSITY AND HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENES IN PRESENCEOF CARBON-DIOXIDE IN SUBCRITICAL AND SUPERCRITICAL CONDITIONS

The grafting of carboxylated and oxygenated functions on low density a nd high density polyethylenes is carried out by gamma irradiation in t he presence of carbon dioxide. Both crosslinking and grafting of oxidi sed groups occur. The extent of these molecular modifications depends on the physical conditions of the gas phase and on the nature of the p olymer matrix. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.