Abstract
Gamma irradiation is a very effective approach that induces cross-linking that leads to improvement in the properties of the composites. Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) composites were prepared with different contents ranging from 10 to 70 phr (parts per hundred rubber) of sepiolite particles. The composites were irradiated at 50 kGy of gamma irradiation. Tensile properties, cross-link density and morphological analysis were investigated, while thermal stability was analyzed by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The findings reveal an increase in tensile strength and modulus of 3.5% and 1.7 MPa, respectively, which is more than an 11% increment compared with the non-irradiated composites. The cross-link density of the irradiated composites exhibited a 2% increment from 64% to 66%. Such improvements to the mechanical characteristics were associated with the cross-linking of rubber chains in the sepiolite/EPDM composites caused by gamma rays. However, the irradiated composites exhibited thermal stability comparable with that of the non-irradiated composites.
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