Effect of electron beam irradiation on the properties of EVA/EPDM blends

What is it about?

It is found that the dosage of irradiation plays a key role in the properties of the EVA/EPDM blends. With the increasing dosage of irradiation, tensile strength and thermal stability were enhanced. The irradiation exerts a crosslinking effect on the blends, and the increase in density is responsible for the enhanced properties. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and morphology indicate that irradiation does not play any negative role in the compatibility between EVA and EPDM. Hot set test reveals that irradiation could improve the heat deformation property of blends.

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Photo by Levi Saunders on Unsplash

Photo by Levi Saunders on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our work reveal the positive role played by irradiation on the tensile strength and thermal properties of EVA/EPDM blends. Mechanical tests reveal that the tensile strength of neat samples is enhanced after being irradiated, though this enhancement is combined with the decrease in elongation at break. TGA tests indicates that irradiation enhances the thermal stability of blends, and such an improvement is possibly due to the hindering effect of irradiation on the deacetylation reaction of EVA. Both the results of DMA and SEM indicate that irradiation exerts no negative role in the compatibility between EVA and EPDM. The hot set tests reveals that the improved heat deformation properties after being irradiated, which is mainly due to the increasing crosslink density caused by irradiation.