AbstractThe chemical and physical properties of polymers can be dramatically affected by exposure to high‐energy radiation. Two polyethylene samples (HDPE and LDPE) were irradiated with a60Co source. Radiated samples with doses ranging between 0.5 and 5 Mrad were melted and their viscoelastic properties characterized. Results show the normal drastic changes in their flow behavior: higher viscosity and interesting changes induced in their elasticity, particularly in the case of LDPE. An explanation of the change in flow behavior is forwarded in terms of transient network models using the concept of creation and destruction of entanglement
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