Process for improving the properties of a polymer by cross-linking in the presence of radiation

摘要

A polymer is subjected to the action of ionizing radiation while in the presence of a polyfunctional monomer containing at least two potentially reactive carbon-to-carbon double bonds, one pair of carbon atoms joined by double bonds being separated from the next pair of such carbon atoms by at least one carbon atom. The polymer may be polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate, cellulose acetate or polyacrylonitrile, and the polyfunctional monomer may be diallyl phthalate, ethylene dimethacrylate or divinyl benzene. The polymer may be mechanically mixed with the monomer or may be immersed in liquid monomer or in monomer solution for a time sufficient to imbibe the monomer. The process may be carried out in the presence of a second monomer which may or may not be polyfunctional such as vinylidene chloride or lauryl methacrylate.