High density polyethylene membrane filled with alumina prepared by a gamma ray irradiation

High density polyethylene (HDPE) membrane filled with alumina particles was prepared by a wet process for a Li-ion secondary battery. Soybean oil and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were premixed as the co-diluents. Gamma ray irradiation was used for crosslinking of HDPE. The HDPE membrane filled with alumina particles had excellent mechanical property and thermal stability due to the alumina particles and irradiation crosslinking. The tensile strength of the membrane increased with an increased amount of alumina up to 15 wt%. The thermal shrinkage of the membrane decreased with an increased amount of alumina up to 15 wt%. The electrochemical stability of the irradiated membrane after extraction was improved with irradiation dose up to 50 kGy.