Gamma-ray irradiation effect of polyethylene on dimaleimides as a class of new multifunctional monomers

Multifunctional monomers, m‐xylylenedimaleimide, p‐phenylenedimaleimide, m‐phenylenedimaleimide, and p‐phenylenedinadimide, all of which have maleimide groups, were synthesized to increase thermal and radiation stabilities. The synthesized multifunctional monomers showed good compatibility with low‐density polyethylene (LDPE). Mixtures of LDPE and these multifunctional monomers were irradiated with γ‐rays from a Co‐60 source at room temperature in a nitrogen atmosphere. The absorbed dose ranged from 0 to 160 KGy. Among these multifunctional monomers, m‐xylylenedimaleimide was the best in gel fraction enhancement. Crosslinked LDPE with m‐xylylenedimaleimide displayed a higher modulus than that of crosslinked LDPE with triallyl cyanurate. For the elongation property, LDPE with m‐xylylenedimaleimide as a multifunctional monomer showed better results than that with commercial multifunctional monomers such as triallyl cyanurate (TAC) and trimethylol propane triacrylate (TMPTA). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2339–2345, 2003