2015 Volume 56 Issue 9 Pages 1505-1508
We have studied the variation in tensile strength (σb), fracture strain (εf) and Young modulus (dσ/dε) of low voltage electron beam irradiation (HLEBI) on powdered ultra-high molecular weight-polyethylene from 0.043 to 0.43 MGy prior to sintering. The low dose of 0.043 MGy-HLEBI enhanced the σb, εf and dσ/dε, as well as increased the crystallinity ratio from 37 to 46% evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An additional dose apparently decreased the σb and εf, as well as the melting point from approximately 412 to 406 K and the crystallinity ratio from 46 to 43% for 0.043 to 0.43 MGy, respectively. Irradiation induces two competitive mechanisms, namely (i) the scission of chains and (ii) the crosslinking of chains. The discussion is focused on these mechanisms.