ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

A Mechanism for the Enhanced Crosslinking of Polyethylene by the Incorporation of Acrylic Acid

D. Campbell and A. Charlesby

Department of Physics, Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, Swindon, Wiltshire

Abstract: The e.s.r. spectrum of acrylic acid, irradiated in the presence of polyethylene at 77 K, differs considerably from that previously found at room temperature. The major components, ascribed to ionic species, are only observed when both acrylic acid and polyethylene are present simultaneously. It is known that under these conditions a sensitized crosslinking occurs, and this is ascribed to a novel ion-radical chain reaction, involving the interaction of the growing poly (aery lie acid) chain end radical with cations formed on the base polyethylene.

Full paper in Portable Document Format: 263a250.pdf

Chemical Papers 26 (3) 250–257 (1972)