PCT Engineered Electron Beam Technology for Converting Applications - Manual (Page 2)

ELECTRON
BEAM
UNWIND
(or direct from
film production)
REWIND
TREATED
FILM
Figure 2. Film Crosslinking
Film Crosslinking
Film crosslinking is the largest single EB application. Polyethylene and polyethylene
copolymers are well known to undergo crosslinking upon EB irradiation. Other polymers
may undergo chain scission or a combination of scission and crosslinking depending on
the polymer. The most common use of polymer crosslinking is to create heat shrinkable
films. Crosslinking is also be used to modify the physical and thermal properties of the
films. New generation low voltage EB processors may be effective for crosslinking of
films up to about 0.002 to 0.004 inches thick. Penetration of thicker films is achieved
with higher voltage (150 to 300 kV) industrial EB processing equipment.