Effect of crystallinity on electrical properties of electron beam irradiated LDPE and HDPE

Two sets of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets were prepared using warm press system. Each set consisted of three subsets which were made in different cooling rate procedures: fast cooling with cassette; exposing in open air; and exposing in 0 °C water, to investigate the crystallinity effects. The samples were irradiated with 10 MeV electron beam in the dose range of 0–370 kGy using a Rhodotron accelerator system. The variation of electrical properties of all samples such as breakdown voltage, surface and volume resistivity were measured and graphed against the dose values. The radiation induced cross-linking and cooling procedure effects were investigated and compared in the obtained results.