Ion bombardment of polyethylene—influence of polymer structure

Abstract Polyethylenes of various macromolecular and supermolecular structures were studied from the point of view of their susceptibility to an ion beam treatment. An influence of molecular weight (Mw), molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) and the degree of branching were compared within the set of low-density polyethylenes (LDPE) studied. An influence of the length of branches was compared between LDPE, linear low-density (LLDPE) and high-density (HDPE) polyethylenes. An influence of the degree of crystallinity and the morphology of a crystalline phase were compared for HDPE samples solidified under various thermal conditions and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Plate p…