E-beam crosslinking provides all of chemical crosslinking’s advantages of having a thermoplastic turn into a thermoset–without the use of harmful chemicals.
Electron beam technology allows for effective and efficient processing, creating useful changes in material properties, such as increased durability, increased chemical resistance, and increased material strength through crosslinking.
The use of e-beam technology often doesn’t require additives, nor does it generate hazardous chemical by-products. The plastic parts crosslinking method is energy efficient, and the minimal amount of exposure time needed helps ensure high throughputs.
Electron beam crosslinking is most frequently used for polyethylene and ethylene-based copolymers, but there is a growing amount of e-beam crosslinking of engineering polymers like polyamides and fluoropolymers, including PVDF and ETFE, in specialty wire and cable and molded parts.
Everyday Applications of Plastic Parts Crosslinking
- Gaskets and seals
- Automotive parts (Check out our Crash Course Video on Crosslinking Under the Hood)
- Connectors
- Mouth guards
- Medical casts
- Plumbing components
- Ice maker tubing
- Risers
- Manifolds
Why it Matters to You:
| No harmful chemicals | Environmentally friendly |
| Increased tensile and impact strength | Increased creep resistance |
| Increased durability | Improved abrasion resistance |
| Improved environmental stress crack resistance | Improved barrier properties |
| Increased material strength | Increased material stability |
| Resistance to chemical solvents | Shrink memory |