branching degree of the ultraviolet-photoinitiated crosslinking polyethylene ( UPCP ) were studied by the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. During the polyethylene’s crosslinking initiated by high energy radiation
I3 decreases when the crosslinking degree of polyethylene increases
but the ultraviolet-photoinitiated crosslinking polyethylene’s I3 increases when its crosslinking degree increases in our experiment
and the trend of I3 is the same as that of its crosslinking degree. This can be attributed to the fact that the increase of UPCP’s crosslinking degree makes its crystal degree decrease
and as the initiator in the photocrosslinking of polyethylene attracts the ultraviolet-photons
its polar carbonyl groups which can attract electrons strongly transform into the weakly attracting electrons’ polar hydroxyl groups.