Radiation effects on blends of poly(ε-caprolactone) and diatomites

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) was blended with diatomaceous earth (diatomite) and irradiated with gamma-rays to introduce cross-linking between PCL molecules or both components. The unwashed diatomite containing a little of a volatile component showed high efficiency of introduction of cross-linking, whereas that with no volatile component showed low efficiency of introduction of cross-linking. Elongational viscosity, melt viscosity, and modulus of PCL/diatomite blend irradiated at various doses were significantly improved. Enzymatic degradation of the PCL/diatomite blend became faster than that of the PCL, though that of the blend irradiated became slower.