Simulations on radiation‐cured polyethylene

Simulations of the simultaneous crosslinking and chain scission reactions that are induced in bulk amorphous polyethylene by irradiation have been implemented with a computer. A detailed study of the various defect structures in the network is reported, to show that dangling ends have the highest population among these defects, especially at higher crosslink densities. The calculated sol fractions compare very favorably with previously published experimental studies. We find that there is about 1 chain scission for every 9 crosslinked units, i.e., one scission per 4.5 crosslinks. This is fewer scissions than had previously been deduced by application of the Charlesby‐Pinner method.