Mechanical Properties of Irradiated Polyamide under Thermal Stress

Abstract

It was found in this study, that radiation crosslinking has a positive effect on the mechanical properties of selected type polyamide. In recent years, there have been increasing requirements for quality and cost effectiveness of manufactured products in all areas of industrial production. These requirements are best met with the polymeric materials, which have many advantages in comparison to traditional materials. The main advantages of polymer materials are especially in their ease of processability, availability, and price of the raw materials. Radiation crosslinking is one of the ways to give the conventional plastics mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of expensive and highly resistant construction polymers. The main purpose of this paper has been to determine the effect of radiation crosslinking on the tensile strength and elongation of PA 66 (filled with 30 % glass fibers). These properties were examined in dependence on the dosage of the ionizing electron beam radiation (non-irradiated samples and those irradiated by dosage 66 and 132 kGy were compared) and on the test temperature (23, 50, 80, and 110 oC). Radiation cross-linking of PA 66 results in increased mechanical strength, and decreased of elongation. As an addition, the increased surface microhardness of polyamide was found.