Post-irradiation grafting of styrene onto polyethylene

The post-irradiation grafting of styrene onto low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films, initiated by the peroxides generated by radiooxidation, has been investigated with determination of the reaction kinetics and the styrene depth concentration profiles. The role of the amorphous and crystalline phases in the polymer matrix, the distribution of initiating peroxides and grafted polystyrene chains is discussed. Irradiation EPR experiments on LDPE/Styrene films containing different concentrations of grafted styrene have been carried out to obtain information on the stabilization and energy transfer effects induced by the aromatic component in the radiation induced in source grafting reactions.