• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.950-955
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• 2009

The physical and rheological properties of thermoplasticized irradiation-crosslinked polyethylene foam using supercritical methanol treatment were investigated by GPC, FTIR, DSC, WAXS, DMTA and UDS. The polyethylene foam was selectively decrosslinked into thermoplasticized polyethylene in an appropriate supercritical methanol condition without any undesirable side reactions such as oxidation and disproportionation. The thermoplasticization was promoted with increasing reaction temperature to reach completion above $380^{\circ}C$. The supercritical reaction condition affected the crystallization behavior, and mechanical and rheological properties of the decrosslinked polyethylene foam, but not its crystallographic structure or crystallinity.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 2012

In this study, crosslinked polyethylene (PE) foam sheets were prepared through gamma-ray irradiation. PE foam sheets were prepared through a foaming process using sodium bicarbonate as a blowing and foaming agent. The prepared PE foam sheets were then crosslinked through gamma-ray irradiation. The crosslinking degree was increased to 86.0% with an increase in the absorption dose. The tensile strength of the crosslinked PE foam sheets was increased with an increase in the absorption dose. However, the elongation-at-break of the crosslinked PE foam sheets was decreased. The thermal decomposition temperature of the crosslinked PE foam sheets was increased to $421.2^{\circ}C$ with an increase in the absorption dose. The SEM analysis revealed that the morphology was not changed significantly after the crosslinking through gamma-ray irradiation.