Role of temperature during ageing under gamma irradiation of filled EPDM: consequences on mechanical properties

Abstract

Filled EPDM materials have been processed and aged by gamma radiation at ambient temperature and at 80 °C to study the influence of the fillers presence in the material degradation. The acceleration of the polymer degradation by the ATH fillers, evidenced when irradiation is performed at 25 °C, is also effective at 80 °C. In addition, in the case of silica‐filled EPDM, the creation of strong filler‐matrix bonds, already reported for irradiation at 25 °C, is also thermally activated; this enables to this material to keep its integrity at high irradiation dose, whereas the irradiated ATH‐filled EPDM is so degraded that it flows. Thus, the introduction of fillers in the polymer has an impact on its resistance to irradiation, whatever the temperature at which the irradiation is performed. Moreover, the consequences of the degradation on the evolution of the mechanical properties of the composite are very dependent on the filler nature. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1319–1328, 2010

Vulcanization of ethylene‐propylene–terpolymer‐based rubber mixtures by radiation processing

“…Modulus at 100% strain (Figure 7) shows that increases in the irradiation dose will increase the crosslink density in the EPDM+TMPT and EPDM+TMPT + ingredients. Significant increases can be noticed in fillers, which might indicate that EB leads to an improvement of filler‐elastomer interactions 43, 44…”

“…Significant increases can be noticed in fillers, which might indicate that EB leads to an improvement of filler-elastomer interactions. 43,44 Upon increasing the TMPT amount in the blends, the increase of modulus at 100% strain is noticed as a result of the increase of rubber crosslinking degree. 45 Tensile strength (Figure 8) and tear strength ( Figure 9) for fillers vulcanized by EB irradiation present maximum values for irradiation dose of 50 kGy, indicating elastomer crosslinking.…”

Exploring the effect of electron beam irradiation on the properties of some EPDM‐flax fiber composites

“…EPDM can be processed without any friction on the rolls or in the mixer and it permits the incorporation of large amounts of fillers and plasticizers. The most utilized fillers are reinforcing fillers (precipitated silica, carbon black), which can significantly improve the elastomer properties, and semi‐reinforcing fillers, such as kaolin, precipitated chalk . Fiber materials can be also embedded in the EPDM matrix in high amounts without altering the final properties.…”

Radiation Processing and Characterization of Some Ethylene-propylene-diene Terpolymer/Butyl (Halobutyl) Rubber/Nanosilica Composites

“…Among the rigid nanofillers, nanosilica is commonly utilized as a reinforcing agent in elastomeric and thermoplastic compositions being a heat-resistant, electrical and thermal insulator. The incorporation of small amounts of nanosilica in polymers leads to the improvement of mechanical properties, higher resistance to abrasion, corrosion or scratching, superior fatigue resistance and good adhesion properties [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. As a matter of fact, the concentration and dispersion of nanofiller play an important role in the enhancement of the performance of the polymer composites.…”