Chemistry, Technology and Application of Substances Vol. 5, No. 1, 2022 А. M. Kucherenko 1 , Y. І. Dovha 1 , M. Ya. Kuznetsova 2 , V. S. Moravskyi 1 Lviv Polytechnic National University 1 Department of chemical technology of plastics processing, 2 Department of heat engineering and thermal and nuclear power plants vmoravsky@gmail.com ANALYSIS OF PROCESSES WHICH OCCUR DURING THE DESTRUCTION OF A COPPER SHELL ON POLYETHYLENE GRANULES https://doi.org/10.23939/ctas2022.01.186 The geometric dimensions of the copper shell formed by chemical deposition on a spherical polyethylene granule were calculated. It is shown that the main factor determining the thickness of the formed copper layer is the initial size of the polyethylene granule. The processes of destruction of the copper shell formed on the polyethylene granule during thermal expansion of the polymer are considered. The values of the limit temperatures in which the copper shell still retains its integrity depending on its thickness are calculated. Key words: metal-filled polymer composites; metallization; metal coating; shell; polyethylene; copper. Introduction Polymers and metals are used in various applications due to their insulating and electrically conductive properties. The creation of metal-filled polymer composites is promising and interesting because it allows you to combine components with diametrically opposite properties in the same material. In this case, with the right combination of components during the production of composite material, you can get a new material. This composite material will combine the positive properties of the components, which will allow you to use it to create new high-tech products and introduce them into new applications. There is a large number of metal-filled polymer composites, which differ by the polymer matrix and the metal filler. The polymer matrix can be done of thermosetting resins [1–3] and thermoplastic polymers [4, 5]. Metal fillers in the vast majority of studies are copper, aluminum, tin, nickel, although not limited to them [3, 6–9]. The properties of metal-filled polymer composites depend not only on the type of matrix and filler used. The shape of the metal filler and the method of obtaining the composite also have a significant effect on the properties [6, 10]. The main task is to ensure uniform distribution of the metal filler in the polymer matrix, as well as the formation or direct contact between the filler particles or the formation of structures in which a different conduction mechanism is possible [3, 11]. Thus, the process of obtaining metal-filled polymer composites with the required properties is not limited to the choice of polymer matrix and metal filler. It is necessary to take into account other factors that affect the properties of the final composite and that must be taken into account while developing technology for such materials. We are developing a technology for producing metal-filled composites, which includes the activation of a polymer surface, its metallization, and the processing of metallized polymer raw materials into products. Thus, this technology consists of three stages. The first stage includes obtaining an activated polymer raw material. Activation of the polymer surface occurs as a result of the joint processing of polymer granules and finely dispersed activator metal in a ball mill [12]. This treatment is responsible for fixing the activator metal on the surface of the polymer granules, which is necessary for the second stage of the process - metallization. Metallization of activated polymer granules occurs in chemical precipitation solutions, which main component is copper sulfate. The use of such solutions provides fast and high-quality metallization of the surface with the production of polymer granules uniformly coated with a metal layer [13]. The final stage is the 186