Radiation-Induced Grafting of Vinyl Monomers Onto Polymer Blends. I. Effect of Vulcanizing Systems on the Grafting of Acrylonitrile onto Epdm/Pe Blends

Abstract

Ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) was blended with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in the ratio 1 : 1. The blends obtained were vulcanized with sulfur or with peroxide vulcanizing systems. The vulcanized samples were subjected to radiation graft copolymerization with acrylonitrile (AN). The parameters affecting graft yield, such as irradiation dose, monomer concentration, and type of solvent, were investigated. It was found that sulfurvulcanized blends are less susceptible towards graft copolymerization than peroxide-vulcanized blend even after purification from residual additives. Thus, the maximum graft yield was found to achieve 5% and 45% for sulfur-and peroxide-vulcanized sam- 1Copyright 0 1997 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. Downloaded by [Queensland University of Technology] at 05