Electron Beam Radiation Of High-density Polyethylene Blends

The effect of electron beam irradiation on the molecular structure and properties of HDPE, the compatibility of e-HDPE/PA6 blend and the mechanism of stiffening and toughening of e-HDPE/STC blend were studied through FT-IR, DSC, SEM, Molau test, mechanical property test and atomic force microscope. The experiment results show that:1. Some oxygen-containing groups including RCOOH, C=C-COOH and RC=O, etc. are introduced into the molecular chains of HDPE during electron beam irradiation, which are corresponding with the IR absorption peak at 1715cm-1, 1699cm-1 and 1719cm-1, respectively.2. Electron beam irradiation causes the degradation of HDPE and some small molecules that contain many oxygen-containing groups are thus formed.3. Compared with HDPE, the surface tension e-HDPE (SMrad), its polar component and hydrogen bond component increase from 32.67dyn/cm, 6.30dyn/cm and 1.21dyn/cm to 36.05dyn/cm, 9.61dyn/cm and 1.74dyn/cm, respectively. The compatibility and mechanical properties of e-HDPE/PA6 blend are thus improved.4. Based on the further understanding of e-HDPE structure and the interfacial adhesion between e-HDPE and STC, the mechanism of stiffening and toughening simultaneously of e-HDPE/STC blend is successfully explained.