Radiation crosslinking of plastics in the automotive industry

Abstract

The cross-linking is the most important reaction of polymers that significantly changes product properties. In the cross-linking, the molecules are joined to create a functional net. The radiation in cross-linking causes change of the thermoplastic into the thermoset. Increasing density of cross-linking increases rigidity and hardness, electric resistance and resistance to solvents; and decreases the degree of bulking. The cross-linking is carried out by peroxides, silanes, ionizing radiation (for example the radiation dose in PE is within the range 1 – 30 Mrad) and by vulcanization of sulphur (in caoutchouc).