Sfera Energy Solutions is unique seller in Italy for RADPOL products, a leading company in the market of heat-shrinkable products, specializing in products made of refined polyethylene, which are created on the basis of our own material mixes. Thanks to the unique technology of radiation cross-linking, RADPOL S.A. uses a unique technology of using electron accelerators on the industrial scale, as one of the few European companies.

We care about the quality of our products that we sell, at the same time respecting the requirements of to environmental protection. RADPOL has implemented an Integrated Management System, maintained and continuously improved in accordance with the requirements of PN EN ISO 9001:2009 and PN EN ISO 14001:2005, is a guarantee of the implementation of the environmental policy formulated in this way.

The crosslinking process

The crosslinking process consists on modification of the polyethylene structure (using chemical methods or physical irradiation) leading to the formation of additional connectors between carbon atoms, that join the adjacent polymer chains. In the plastics industry, crosslinking is mainly used with chemical methods. Radiation cross-linking does not require cross-linking chemicals and takes precedence over chemical methods because there are no residues of chemicals in the cross-linking material. Therefore, cross-linking is more environmentally friendly.

RADPOL S.A. in Człuchów has electron accelerators with 2.5 MeV and 4.5 MeV energy for the purpose of radiation networking. These are the only ones of its kind in the industry equipment in Poland and one of the few in Europe. On them carried out is the process of radiation cross-linking by means of an electron beam. The method consists on scanning electron beam polymers accelerated in a vacuum by the energy of a few millions of electron volts. As a result of it two adjacent polymer chains are connected where the separation of hydrogen atoms has occurred. As a result of cross-linking, the material gains unique properties. Electron beam cross-linking networking causes that the polymers material preserves dimensional stability under influence of heat, resistance to chemicals, solvents and high temperatures. It is also harder and more resistant for abrasion.

The crosslinking process produces a high-strength material structure

The cross-linked material has unique characteristics:

• “shape memory”, a maximum operating temperature of up to 135°C,
• resistance to thermal shock up to +250°C,
• total resistance to stress corrosion,
• increased resistance to aggressive chemical agents,
• high mechanical strength,
• high resistance to incomplete discharges

The above characteristics and ease of use mean that this material can be used in the most varied fields, both as an insulator and as a protection for exposed parts.