Polyethylene is the most commonly electron beam-crosslinked polymer. Regardless whether it is LDPE, LLDPE or HDPE, it will crosslink with sufficient dose. The effect of the crosslinking will be a dramatic increase in heat resistance, as well as an improved impact resistance at low temperatures and a number of other property enhancements.
Next question, “How can we verify the effects of e-beam irradiation on my parts?”
Run a simple experiment at multiple “dose” levels. As the dose is increased, the crosslinking level will increase. For polyethylene, a dose range for an initial experiment may be 100 kGy to 200 kGy (equivalent to 10 megarads to 20 megarads). The number of samples will depend on your testing required to determine if the desired properties were reached.
As an example, three sets of 10 samples may be sent to E-BEAM. We will irradiate each set at a given dose, such as 100, 150, and 200 kGy. The final testing is then performed to determine if the properties were met. This testing is best accomplished by the manufacturer as you have the greatest understanding of your product and your product requirements.
The process is that simple!
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