The effect of electron beam irradiation on properties of virgin and glass fiber-reinforced polyamide 6

• Effect of EB irradiation on virgin and glass-fiber reinforced PA-6 up to 500 kGy.
• Gel content, tensile properties and thermal resistance examination.
• Comparison of the irradiation effect on both materials.

Crosslinking of virgin polyamide 6 (PA-6) and PA-6 filled with 30 wt% glass fibers (GF) was investigated. The crosslinking was initiated by electron irradiation applying dose ranging from 50 to 500 kGy. The gel point was determined to be 200 kGy for both materials. The results obtained indicate that the GF presence may retard gel formation in the PA-matrix. The irradiation of unfilled PA-6 resulted in an increase in tensile strength at break and Young׳s moduli (a minimum 50% gel content is needed), tensile properties at yield were not affected by crosslinking. Thermal resistance, as measured by the heat deflection temperature and Vicat softening temperature, was affected only marginally. Considering these effects, electron beam irradiation is found to be more beneficial for the virgin PA than for the corresponding PA/GF composite.