The influence of $\gamma$-radiation on molecular characteristics of polyethylene. II. Light scattering investigations

By the method of light scattering the influence of $\gamma$-radiation on molecular characteristics of low density polyethylene (LDPE) in dependence of thickness of the species, the intensity and radiation dose has been investigated. It has been established that the LDPE average-mass molecular mass is in direct dependence with the growth of molecular mass which is mainly due to the increase of the degree of macromolecular branching. In connection with this the origine of the minimum observed earlier on the dependence curve of viscosity molecular mass on radiation dose is explained by the change of marcomolecular effective hydrodynamic volume. It has been also established that the rate of change of LDPE molecular characteristics depends on the thickness of radiated species and radiation intensity.