Developments in electron beam processing in polymer and petroleum industries

Recent estimates show that out of about 1400 electron accelerator units currently in use for industrial applications throughout the world, 1200 are being used for plastics and rubber processing. Commercial availability of new low, medium and high energy electron accelerators with varying powers and innovative formulations for better radiation processing of polymers have brought a synergy into electron beam processing in polymer industry. The objective of this paper is to highlight recent developments and emerging applications of radiation processing in polymer and petroleum processing industries. The emphasis will be made on the preparation of fuel cell membranes for low temperature fuel cells, specialty adsorbents for recovery of useful metals/removal of toxic chemical species from aqueous systems, nanostructuring of surfaces for tissue engineering, modification of fluorinated polymers as solid lubricants, advanced materials for biomedical applications, composites for automotive and aviation industries and upgrading of heavy oil.