Radiation-induced structure transformation and vibrational spectra of polyethylene

Abstract

Crystal structure and vibrational spectra of low density polyethylene and nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes in the initial state and after high energy electron irradiation in wide range of absorption dose (0.05 - 4.72) MGy were studied. It is shown that with increasing of electron absorption dose the degree of crystallinity changes monotonically, while maintaining the orthorhombic phase. Changes in IR absorption spectra and Raman scattering are caused by radiation-stimulated change in the structure of polyethylene, which includes the destruction of the main and side chains, and the creation of cross-linking macrochain π-conjugated polyene sequences.

Keywords

• low density polyethylene
• crystal structure
• degree of crystallinity IR absorption
• Raman scattering
• high-energy electron irradiation