Radiation Processing of Polymer Materials and its Industrial Applications -- Contents -- Preface -- Abbreviations -- 1: Basic Concepts of Radiation Processing -- 1.1: Radiation Sources -- 1.1.1: γ- Ray -- 1.1.2: Electron Beam -- 1.1.3: X-Ray -- 1.2: Radiation Chemistry of Polymers -- 1.2.1: Interactions of Ionizing Radiation with Polymers and Reactions Induced -- 1.2.2: Different Responses to Radiation from Different Polymers -- 1.3: Advantages and Disadvantages of Radiation Processing -- 1.4: Engineering of Radiation Processing -- 1.4.1: Materials Handling -- 1.4.2: Radiation Dose and Dose Distribution -- 1.4.3: Throughput -- 1.4.4: Temperature Rise -- 1.4.5: Atmosphere -- 1.4.6: Dose Rate -- 1.4.7: Radiation Processing Cost -- References -- 2: Fundamentals of Radiation Crosslinking -- 2.1: Radiation Chemistry of Crosslinking -- 2.1.1: Types of Crosslinking -- 2.1.2: Evidence of Crosslinking -- 2.2: Crosslinking of Polymer -- 2.2.1: Crosslinking of Semicrystalline Polymer -- 2.2.1.1: Peroxide Crosslinking -- 2.2.1.2: Silane Crosslinking -- 2.2.1.3: Technical Comparison of Crosslinking Methods -- 2.2.2: Crosslinking of Rubber -- 2.2.2.1: Radiation Crosslinking Versus Sulfur Crosslinking -- 2.2.2.2: Radiation Crosslinking Versus Peroxide Crosslinking -- 2.3: Estimation of G Value of Crosslinking -- 2.3.1: Charlesby-Pinner Method -- 2.3.2: Modification of Charlesby-Pinner Equation -- 2.3.3: Swelling and Elasticity Methods -- 2.4: Factors Affecting Radiation Crosslinking -- 2.4.1: Physical Nature of Polymer -- 2.4.1.1: Glass-Transition Temperature -- 2.4.1.2: Crystallinity -- 2.4.2: Chemical Composition of Polymer -- 2.4.2.1: Bond Energy -- 2.4.2.2: Unsaturation -- 2.4.2.3: Methyl Group -- 2.4.2.4: Halogen Atom -- 2.4.2.5: Phenyl Group -- 2.4.2.6: Ester and Ether Bond -- 2.4.2.7: Copolymer -- 2.4.2.8: Ethylene Copolymer -- 2.4.2.9: Fluoropolymer.

2.4.2.10: Silicone Rubber -- 2.4.2.11: Branching -- 2.4.3: Molecular Weight and Molecular Weight Distribution -- 2.4.4: Configuration -- 2.4.4.1: Structural Isomerism -- 2.4.4.2: Stereoisomerism -- References -- 3: Enhancement of Radiation Crosslinking -- 3.1: Concept of Enhancement of Radiation Crosslinking -- 3.2: Increasing Number of Polymer Radicals -- 3.2.1: Sensitizer -- 3.2.2: Postirradiation Heat Treatment -- 3.3: Increasing Recombination of Polymer Radicals -- 3.3.1: Compression -- 3.3.2: High-Temperature Irradiation -- 3.3.3: Plasticizer -- 3.3.4: Polyfunctional Monomer -- 3.4: Filler Effect -- 3.4.1: Modification of Superstructure -- 3.4.2: Direct Bonding to Amorphous Polymers -- 3.5: Hybrid Crosslinking -- 3.6: Selection of Antioxidant -- 3.7: Advanced Radiation Crosslinking -- References -- 4: Properties of Radiation Crosslinked Polymers -- 4.1: Radiation Crosslinked Rubbers -- 4.1.1: Radiation Crosslinking of Rubbers -- 4.1.2: Properties of Radiation Crosslinked Rubbers with PFM -- 4.1.3: Silicone Rubber -- 4.1.4: Fluoroelastomer -- 4.2: Radiation Crosslinked Plastics -- 4.2.1: Physical Properties of Crosslinked Polymers at Room Temperature -- 4.2.1.1: Mechanical Properties -- 4.2.1.2: Crystallinity -- 4.2.1.3: Melting Temperature -- 4.2.1.4: Cold Resistance, Hardness, and Creep -- 4.2.1.5: Wear -- 4.2.1.6: Environmental Stress-Cracking Resistance -- 4.2.1.7: Electrical Properties -- 4.2.2: Physical Properties of Crosslinked Polymers at High Temperature -- 4.2.2.1: Melt Flow Onset Temperature and Hot Set -- 4.2.2.2: Mechanical Properties above Melting Temperature -- 4.2.3: Biodegradability of Crosslinked Biodegradable Plastic -- 4.3: Radiation Crosslinked PVC -- 4.4: Radiation Crosslinked Engineering Plastic -- 4.5: Radiation Crosslinked PTFE -- References -- 5: Application of Radiation Crosslinking.

5.1: Heat-Shrinkable Plastic Products -- 5.1.1: Crosslinking for Shape Memory -- 5.1.2: Processes for Introducing Shape Memory Effect -- 5.1.3: Heat-Shrinkable Tubing and Film -- 5.1.4: Biomedical Applications -- 5.1.5: Potential Industrial Applications -- 5.2: Plastic Foams -- 5.2.1: Crosslinking for Plastic Foams -- 5.2.2: Foaming -- 5.2.3: Radiation Crosslinking Versus Peroxide Crosslinking -- 5.2.4: Advanced Foams-Microcellular Foams -- 5.3: Wire and Cable -- 5.3.1: Radiation Crosslinked Wires and Cables -- 5.3.2: Development of Environmentally Friendly Wires and Cables -- 5.3.2.1: Lead-Free PVC Wires -- 5.3.2.2: Heat-Resistant Halogen-Free Wires -- 5.3.2.3: Power Harnesses for Hybrid Electric Vehicle -- 5.3.3: Syndiotactic PP for Wire and Cable -- 5.4: Polyethylene Pipe -- 5.4.1: Application and Properties of Crosslinked Polyethylene Pipe -- 5.4.2: Irradiation Processing of Polyethylene Pipe -- 5.5: Radial Tires -- 5.5.1: Irradiation of Body Ply -- 5.5.2: Benefit and Cost Analysis of Radiation Crosslinking -- 5.6: O-Rings -- References -- 6: New Application of Radiation Crosslinking -- 6.1: Positive Temperature Coefficient Polymer Products -- 6.1.1: Crosslinking for PTC -- 6.1.1.1: Carbon Black -- 6.1.1.2: Percolation Threshold -- 6.1.1.3: PTC and NTC -- 6.1.1.4: Effect of Crosslinking on NTC -- 6.1.2: Effects of Process Factors on PTC -- 6.1.2.1: Conductive Filler -- 6.1.2.2: Mixing -- 6.1.2.3: Blending of Polymers -- 6.1.2.4: Irradiation -- 6.1.2.5: Annealing -- 6.1.3: Advantages of Radiation Crosslinking -- 6.1.4: Applications of PTC Devices -- 6.2: SiC-Based High Temperature Resistant Fibers -- 6.2.1: Process -- 6.2.2: Properties -- 6.3: Artificial Joint -- 6.3.1: Artificial Hip and Knee Joint -- 6.3.2: UHMWPE for Artificial Joints -- 6.3.3: Highly Crosslinked UHMWPE -- 6.3.4: Crosslinked UHMWPE -- 6.3.5: Addition of Vitamin E.

6.3.6: High-Pressure Crystallized UHMWPE -- 6.3.6.1: Uniaxial Compression of Crosslinked UHMWPE -- 6.3.6.2: Isostatic Compression -- 6.3.7: Compression with Vitamin E -- 6.3.8: Clinical Introduction of Radiation Crosslinked UHMWPE -- 6.3.9: Advantages of Radiation Crosslinking -- References -- 7: Chain Scission and Oxidation -- 7.1: Chemistry and General Technology -- 7.2: Synthetic Polymers -- 7.2.1: PTFE -- 7.2.2: Polypropylene -- 7.2.3: Butyl Rubber -- 7.2.4: Other Synthetic Polymers -- 7.3: Cellulose and its Derivatives -- 7.3.1: Cellulose -- 7.3.2: Cellulose Derivatives -- 7.4: Polymer Stability Concerns for Radiation Sterilization -- 7.4.1: Polypropylene -- 7.4.2: Poly(Vinyl Chloride) -- 7.4.3: Polyethylene -- 7.4.4: Other Polymers -- References -- 8: Long-Chain Branching of Polymer Resins -- 8.1: Radiation Chemistry of Branching -- 8.1.1: Polypropylene -- 8.1.1.1: Irradiation in an Oxygen-Free or Reduced-Oxygen Atmosphere -- 8.1.1.2: Irradiation in a Melted State -- 8.1.1.3: Irradiation with the Addition of a Branching Promoter -- 8.1.2: Polyethylene -- 8.1.2.1: Irradiation in an Oxygen-Free or Reduced-Oxygen Atmosphere -- 8.1.2.2: Irradiation in Air -- 8.1.3: Other Polymers -- 8.2: Effects on Rheology -- 8.2.1: Polypropylene -- 8.2.2: Polyethylene -- 8.2.3: Other Polymers -- 8.3: Processability Implications -- 8.4: Application Examples -- 8.4.1: Extrusion Coating -- 8.4.2: Foaming -- 8.4.3: Film Blowing -- 8.4.4: Other Applications -- References -- 9: Radiation Processing of Aqueous Polymer Systems -- 9.1: Radiation Chemistry of Aqueous Polymer Systems -- 9.2: Crosslinking of Polymer Dissolved in Water -- 9.2.1: Radiation Processing of Hydrogel -- 9.2.2: Properties of Hydrogels -- 9.2.3: Applications -- 9.2.4: Industrial Competitiveness -- 9.3: Degradation of Polysaccharide Dissolved in Water -- 9.3.1: Radiation Process.

9.3.2: Properties and Applications of Radiation-Degraded Polysaccharides -- 9.3.3: Industrial Competitiveness -- 9.4: Crosslinking of Polymers Dispersed in Water -- 9.4.1: Radiation Vulcanization of Natural Rubber Latex -- 9.4.2: Mechanical Properties of RVNR Latex Products -- 9.4.3: Safety of RVNR Latex Products -- 9.4.4: Reduction in Extractable Proteins -- 9.4.5: Commercial Applications of RVNRL -- 9.4.6: Economic Aspects of RVNRL -- 9.4.7: Industrial Competitiveness -- References -- 10: Curing of Composites and Adhesives -- 10.1: Radiation Chemistry of Curing -- 10.2: Advanced Composites -- 10.2.1: Advantages of Radiation Curing -- 10.2.2: Aerospace Applications -- 10.2.3: Military Applications -- 10.2.4: Other advanced composite applications -- 10.3: Wood and Natural Fiber Composites -- 10.3.1: Wood-Plastic Composites -- 10.3.2: Natural Fiber-Plastic Composites -- 10.4: Adhesives -- 10.4.1: Aerospace and Automotive Applications -- 10.4.2: Wood Adhesive Applications -- 10.5: Other Applications and Commercialization Challenges -- 10.5.1: Other Applications -- 10.5.2: Commercialization Challenges -- References -- 11: Radiation Graft Polymerization -- 11.1: Radiation Chemistry of Graft Polymerization -- 11.2: Grafting in Solution -- 11.2.1: Effective Use of Polymer Radicals -- 11.2.2: Enhancements of Rate and Degree of Grafting -- 11.2.2.1: Irradiation Atmosphere, Dose, and Dose Rate -- 11.2.2.2: Reaction Temperature -- 11.2.2.3: Solvent -- 11.2.2.4: Monomer Concentration -- 11.2.2.5: Additives -- 11.2.3: Suppression of Homopolymer Formation -- 11.3: Grafting in Emulsion -- 11.3.1: Enhanced Grafting in Emulsion -- 11.3.2: Physical Chemistry of Grafting in Emulsion -- 11.3.3: Advanced Grafting in Suspension -- 11.4: Grafting onto Inorganic Particles -- 11.4.1: Silica -- 11.4.2: Magnesia -- 11.4.3: Carbon.

11.5: Application of Radiation Graft Polymerization.