Electron beam irradiation of low-density polyethylene filled with metal hydroxides for wire and cable applications

The effects of electron beam irradiation for crosslinking of polymers used for wire and cable insulations are still being researched. In this research, the influence of electron beam irradiation on the different blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) filled with aluminum trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide (ATH, MH) were studied. It was revealed by melt flow index, tensile strength, and elongation at break tests that addition of MH to LDPE increases the adhesion forces inside polymer matrices more efficient than similar ATH/LDPE compounds. Field emission scanning electron microscopy test showed that MH is platy in structure and more homogenous mixed than ATH with LDPE. The results on thermogravimetric analysis and limiting oxygen index tests revealed that the thermal stability and incombustibility properties of MH blends are more efficient than similar ATH blends. Meanwhile, it was observed by smoke density test that MH blends produce the lowest smoke density compared with virgin LDPE and similar ATH blends. It was also observed that increasing irradiation by electron beam had impressive affections on the density, gel content, and mechanical properties for all the polymeric samples in this study

The effect of UV light on the thermooxidative stability of linear low density polyethylene films crosslinked by ionizing radiation

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on the thermooxidative stability of Linear Low Density Polyethylene(LLDPE) films was studied. LLDPE was stabilized with phenolic type antioxidant known as Irganox 1010, hindered amine light stabilizer known as Chimmasorb 944 and phenolic type gamma stabilizer. The influence of these additives on the thermooxidative stability of gamma and UV irradiated LLDPE were investigated by isothermal Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The oxidation induction time (OIT) experiments indicate that antirad free LLDPE films which contains antioxidant and UV stabilizer are more sensitive to gamma and UV radiation. On the other hand, films which contain antirad and irradiated to different doses of gamma-radiation demonstrated improved thermooxidative stability

Dielectrical, optical, and structural characterization of TiO2/PVA nanocomposite films for dielectric applications

In this study, titanium dioxide/poly(vinyl) alcohol (TiO2/PVA) nanocomposite thin films were prepared by a simple spin-coating method for dielectric applications. Structural, morphological, optical, and dielectric properties of samples were analyzed by XRD, SEM, AFM, UV-VIS, and dielectric measurements. The effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on these properties was investigated. It was found that TiO2 nanoparticles lead to increase the crystallinity of nanocomposites. As TiO2 content in the composite structure increases, while average transmittance values decrease, reflectance values increase. The dielectric parameters such as real and imaginary part of complex permittivity which are related to the stored energy and the dissipation (or loss) of energy were significantly affected by the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles. In addition, alternating current (A.C.) conductivity increased with increasing applied frequency. The A.C. conductivity also confirmed that all the samples exhibited the insulator behavior and obeyed the universal power law