The influence of electron-beam radiation on the tensile and recoil compressive strengths of Kevlar-29

Many research groups have attempted to enhance the compressive strength of high-performance polymers. Unlike more common methods including thermal treatment or the addition of a cross-linking agent during spinning, this paper describes the use of electron-beam radiation to induce cross-linking in Kevlar-29. The data show that the recoil compressive strength of the fiber increases significantly with increasing radiation exposure, reaching 487 MPa at a dose of 1100 kGy. The radiation also reduces the tensile strength of the fiber, but by less than twenty per cent. Observable physical changes that accompany the changes in mechanical properties include a reduction in fiber diameter and a change in color.