| Abstract: | Interchain bridges of unsaturated double bonds have been proposed to form in amorphous regions, when polyethylene is irradiated in the presence of acetylene. We have corroborated the formation of these bridges by infrared spectroscopic studies. The double bonds are composed mainly of trans-olefin and vinyl end groups, formed as a result of competing radical-radical termination and hydrogen atom abstraction reactions. The hydrogen atom abstraction reaction becomes insignificant in uniaxially oriented high-density polyethylene having a draw ratio of 7.5, because of the alignment and positioning of the initiating radical pairs. During in vacuo irradiation and annealing only in-chain trans-olefins are usually formed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
