Metallic organic compounds of iron

stannum and manganese were introduced into lowdensity polyethylene as catalysts of degradation at low temperatures. The mechanical properties

viscosity-average molecular weight of polyethylene and the hydroperoxide concentration in the matrix were measured. It was shown that at 70℃ the adopted additives can catalyze the degradation of polyethylene efficiently. After 60 day's aging

most of the samples became very fragile

and their molecular weight decreased in large scales. The relationship between moecular weght and hydroperoxide concentration

as well as the mode of the degrading behavior of the prepared matrixes

was also discussed.