Effect of electron beam irradiation on mechanical properties of high density polyethylene and its blends with sericite-tridymite-cristobalite

Some oxygen containing groups (mainly the C=O group) are formed on the mole cular chain of high density polyethylene (HDPE) during electron beam irradi ation in air. The affinity between HDPE and sericite-tridymite-cristobalite (STC), the dispersion of STC in the HDPE matrix, and the mechanical proper ties of the HDPE/STC blend are improved quite a lot by the introduction of polar groups. Compared with HDPE, the tensile and impact strength of electr on beam irradiated HDPE (30 kGy)/STC (60/40) are increased to 29.0 MPa and 518 J/m, respectively, from 24.5 MPa and 215 J/m; the tensile and impact st rength of irradiated HDPE (30 kGy)/STC (50/50) are 31.1 MPa and 424 J/m, re spectively. The Ceast impact test showed that the increase of impact streng th was mainly due to the strong interfacial adhesion between irradiated HDP E and STC, thus preventing the spreading of cracks over wide areas. (C) 200 0 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.