Radiation-assisted grafting of vinylidene chloride onto high-density polyethylene

6 MeV electrons and Co-60 gamma-rays were used for grafting vinylidene chloride (VDC) onto high-density polyethylene (HDPE) samples. The HDPE samples were immersed in vinylidene chloride and irradiated either with Co-60 gamma-rays or with 6 MeV electrons. In both cases, the radiation dose was varied in the range 1.25-7.5 kGy. The grafted samples were characterized by IR spectroscopy to obtain information about the chemical bonds and with the 14 MeV neutron activation analysis technique for estimating the number of chlorine atoms. The formation of stable bonds between the VDC molecules and the polymer chains could be achieved either with 6 MeV electrons or with Co-60 gamma-rays. Both the number of chlorine atoms and the sample-surface conductivity increased with the radiation dose but the increases achieved with 6 MeV electrons were greater than those achieved with Co-60 gamma-rays.