The effects of electron beam irradiation on ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE) were studied. Samples were irradiated in air at room temperature by a universal electron beam accelerator for various doses. The effect of irradiation on samples and the cross-linked ETFE after aging were investigated with respect to thermal characteristics, crystallinity, mechanical properties, and volume resistivity using thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), universal mechanical tester, and high resistance meter. TGA showed that thermal stability of irradiated ETFE is considerably lower than that of unirradiated ETFE. DSC indicates that crystallinity is altered greatly by cross-link. The analysis of mechanical properties, fracture surface morphology, visco-elastic properties and volume resistivity certify radiation-induced cross-linking is vital to aging properties.
Keywords: ETFE; aging; crystallization kinetics; irradiation; mechanical properties.