The use of trans-vinylene formation in quantifying the spatial distribution of electron beam penetration in polyethylene. Single-sided, double-sided and shielded irradiation.

The use of the quantification of trans-vinylene unsaturations in irradiated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in determining the spatial distribution of electron beam penetration was investigated. UHMWPE was irradiated with a 10MeV linear electron beam accelerator to 100kGy at both room temperature and 125 degrees C in air. The irradiation was carried out in shielded and unshielded single-sided and unshielded double-sided irradiation modes. Dose-depth profiles were measured by quantifying the yields of trans-vinylene unsaturations as a function of depth away from the e-beam incidence surfaces using infrared spectroscopy. The extent of beam penetration increased with increasing irradiation temperature as was manifested by the increase in the iso-dose penetration with the unshielded single-sided irradiation and increased dose overlap with the unshielded double-sided irradiation. The optimum thickness with maximum uniformity in dose-depth distribution for double-sided irradiation was 85 and 90mm for 25 degrees C and 125 degrees C irradiation temperatures, respectively.