Thin polymer films (0.06 mm thick) were prepared with LLDPE (coded as A) and LDPE (coded as D) at different film draw temperatures (FDTs) from 5 to 65degreesC. There was about a 42% enhancement of the tensile strength when the LLDPE film was drawn at 45degreesC and LDPE at 35degreesC and the ultimate elongation increased between 14 and 32%. When various additives were incorporated into these resins A and D, the tensile strength slightly decreased, but the ultimate elongation increased. Films which attained the highest tensile properties showed the maximum resistance against degradation by natural outdoor weathering. Although irradiation of these films by a gamma source caused reduction of their tensile properties, there was a general tendency of resisting this reduction with increase of the FDT. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.