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

Abstract

Elastomers are materials used in a large range of industrial and household applications. A common physical‐chemical treatment is curing (crosslinking), imparting the rubber mechanical and thermal stability. Elastomers show low thermal conductivity values, and therefore, require complex and high‐cost heating methods; thus, the ionizing (accelerated electrons) method shows high interest for the grafting and crosslinking processes. In addition to the lack of environmental impact, reliability, flexibility, and low costs render the radiation technologies especially attractive. The article presents the results concerning trimethylolpropane‐trimethacrylate coagent concentration effect, on the mechanical properties of the ethylene‐propylene–terpolymer (EPDM) rubber vulcanized by electron beam (EB). Mechanical properties of EB irradiated samples were compared with the dibenzoyl peroxide cured samples. Dependence of mechanical properties on irradiation dose was determined from a dose range of 0 kGy to 200 kGy. Dibenzoyl peroxide vulcanization at 160°C was carried out on the EPDM samples as well. Two types of blends have been analyzed: fillers and nonfillers. The results showed an increase in mechanical properties as a function of increasing polyfunctional monomer level. Also, based on the comparison between EB and dibenzoyl peroxide vulcanization efficiency, the results show that EB irradiation gave the best results. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Acrylamide-Co-Acrylic Acid) Flocculant Obtained by Electron Beam Irradiation

“…So a good solution is to use ionizing radiation to produce polymer materials, especially using accelerated electron beams which actually direct all their energy in the volume of irradiated monomer solutions. The research line of the authors of the present work laboratory is to done the processing of materials for research and industrial applications especially for polymerization, cross-linking or monomers grafting onto polymers, by electron beam irradiation (EB) [12][13][14][15][16][17] . In this paper, physico-chemical characteristics of polymeric materials (flocculants) obtained by electron beam irradiation, are presented.…”

Irradiation vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber/nanoscale silica composites

“…The gamma (γ) irradiation [4][5][6] or electron beam irradiation [7,8] induces the generation of free radicals. Consequently, macromolecule free radicals undergo grafting, coupling, and disproportionation to form a three dimensional network structure of vulcanized rubber macromolecules [9][10][11].…”

Characteristics of Polymer Composites Based on Natural Rubber

“…Physical-mechanical properties of samples containing C-Sx-C crosslinking bridges exhibit better tensile strength values than those containing C-C bonds. Although vulcanization with sulphur and vulcanization accelerators leads to obtaining products with better characteristics, it also has disadvantages, such as the fact that during the process of vulcanization nitrosamines (carcinogen products) are formed and the obtained end products are toxic, contain heavy metals (Zn), have an unpleasant odor and exudate [10,11]. For these reasons, efforts are made internationally to replace sulfur and curing accelerators vulcanization systems.…”