Studying the Effect of Temperature, Static Load and Nanodimensional Defects on the Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene Film at Uniaxial Extension

Abstract

The dependence of strain on temperature in polyethylene under various static loads and exposure doses has been studied experimentally. After electron irradiation with doses of 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 kGy, significant changes in the mechanical properties were observed, which are caused by the formation of nanodefects in the material’s structure. With increasing radiation dose, PE deformation at different temperatures decreases due to destruction in the structure of the polymer material. At the same time, the return deformation increases with increasing dose, indicating a change in the modulus of elasticity (E). The increase in E occurs due to the decrease in the distance between macromolecules in the irradiated structure of the sample. The obtained curves for both non-irradiated and irradiated material are described in an exponential model satisfactorily.