Effect of addition of finely divided radiation-crosslinked polyethylene onthermomechanical properties of polyethylene

The properties of polymer plates molded from finely divided powders prepare d by cryogenic dispersion of polyethylene (PE) and radiation-crosslinked po lyethylene (RPE) and the plates molded from the 1 : 1 blend of these powder s were studied by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). It was shown that the st rain of electron beam-irradiated PE plates in TMA, and the effective number concentration of three-dimensional network points are enhanced by increasi ng the radiation dose. However, increasing the pressure in the TMA of RPE p roduced the reverse effect on these characteristics. It was found that at a load of 0.05 MPa, the thermomechanical curve of the composite material is close to that of the initial polyethylene, and the indentation is significa ntly higher than follows from the additivity rule. The effective concentrat ion of network points turned out to be three orders of magnitude smaller th an in RPE.