Status of Radiation Processing
of Polymers in China
Prepared by Guozhong WU
Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Presented by Yves HENON
Asiaster Pte Ltd, Singapore
• Research started in the 1960s
• Technological transfers from USRR and Japan
• Commercial applications have reached a large scale
• International players have now come to China (Raychem, Sterigenics…)
• Many facilities that can be used / are built for these applications
• Accelerators : about 150 (50 in 2000)
• Gamma irradiators: about 180
Most accelerators are from 1.2 MeV to 3.0 MeV
Most were manufactured in China or in Russia
< 1 MeV machine made in Japan
10 MeV machine made in China
Machines under development:
- 500-800 keV / 50-100 mA
- 5 MeV / 20 mA
Main commercial application
Heat-shrinkable material
Cable & wire
Other large scale applications:
Cross-linking
Polyethylene foam
Grafting
Battery membranes
Polymerisation
Adhesives
About to reach commercial scale
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
cum
ula
tive
dis
trib
uti
on Q
3(x
) /
%
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
den
sity
dis
trib
uti
on q
3lg
(x)
0.100.10 0.5 1 5 10 50
particle size / µm
3 micron
Particle size distribution
Degradation of PTFE Irradiation + micronisation
Degradation of chitosan Irradiation + pulverisation
Antibacterial viscose fibre
4 reasons why a strong growth is expected
1))))The market will increase with the expected growth of
the Chinese economy. By 2020, the GDP is expected to
increase by a 4-fold.
Main market should remain heat-shrinkable material,
cables and wires.
4 reasons why a strong growth is expected
2))))By 2020, China will be the world largest automobile
market, producing 20 million cars per year.
The need for radiation modified parts will increase.
tyres
Heat shrinkable tubeFoamed polymer
4 reasons why a strong growth is expected
3))))In order to meet the energy needs, 30 new nuclear
power plants should be built by 2020.
They will require radiation resistant cables, wires and
tubes.
4 reasons why a strong growth is expected
4))))There is strong government support
In 2004, the Chinese National Development & Reform
Commission (NDRC) approved 21 projects for non-power
nuclear applications.
- 8 projects related to radiation processing of polymer including
battery membranes, rubber modification and heat-shrinkable
materials.
- 3 projects for the production of electron accelerators.
Conclusion
Within a few years, China is likely to become the
world number 1 for radiation processing of
polymers, both in terms of number of irradiation
facilities in use and of market value.
Events to come:
- Electron beam and machines and applications
Shanghai, 27-31 October 2008
Contact: Guozhong WU
- Regional Workshop on Radiation Processing
Suzhou, 22-23 October 2008
Contact: Pr Zhu Nankang
- Forum on Radiation Processing
Beijing, December 2008
Contact: China Isotopes and Radiation Association