Radiation crosslinking

Radiation crosslinking is a process by which the performance of plastics can be significantly improved. In this process, the polymer chains of the plastic are crosslinked by irradiation with high-energy radiation, such as electron beams or gamma rays. This crosslinking leads to a considerable improvement in the material properties.

A clear example of this is radiation-crosslinked polyamides. Radiation crosslinking allows polyamides to withstand significantly higher continuous service temperatures, which makes them suitable for applications under extreme thermal conditions. They also gain in stress-crack resistance, meaning they are less susceptible to cracks that can arise from mechanical stresses or chemical influences.

These improved properties make radiation-crosslinked plastics ideal for a wide range of industrial applications in which high mechanical loads and extreme environmental conditions occur. Radiation crosslinking thus allows plastics to advance into new areas of application and offers a more durable and more resistant alternative to conventional plastics.