In this work, accelerated thermal aging at different temperatures was performed on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles and specimens for food packaging. The degradation of HDPE was followed macroscopically by tensile and compression tests to evaluate the decrease in mechanical properties. The data obtained from these tests are used to calculate a new static damage law and the life fraction of this polymer. A prediction of the lifetime of HDPE was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in dynamic mode. The evolution of the crystallinity rate during accelerated thermal aging was carried out using FOURIER transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The results obtained show a remarkable degradation of the mechanical properties in traction and compression by calculation of the static damage, and the physical and chemical properties by the analysis of the rate of crystallinity as well as the prediction by the law of Arrhenius.

HDPE was functionalized with two different esters in an inert atmosphere at 160°C, under different experimental conditions by thermolysis method. The order of the functionalization and crosslinking reactions was determined. The C=C formation peak is assigned at 1610 cm-1.The percentage of functionalization was determined by FTIR spectroscopy method. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetric methods were also used to study about the thermal properties of the functionalized HDPE.