Radiation induced modifications in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

The effect of proton irradiation dose on the morphology of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was studied. The radiation dose was varied from 0.09402 to 0.87 Mrads. The thermal behavior of the irradiated samples was investigated by submission to two heating cycles. The proton irradiation produces morphological changes in the mole fraction of crystallizable units, sequence length distribution, and crystallite thickness and distribution. The type of morphological changes is dependent on irradiation dose and thermal cycle. The low proton radiation dose produces only slight changes in the morphology of UHMWPE. More pronounced morphological changes are observed for the higher proton radiation dose.