Growing of crystalline zones in EPDM irradiated with a low neutron flux

Abstract

The effects of low neutron flux irradiation on commercial ethylene–propylene–diene-monomer (EPDM) filled with ceramic particles were studied. This material is used as housing in non-ceramic outdoor electrical insulators. Mechanical dynamical analysis (loss tangent and modulus measurements), swelling test, infrared absorption and X-ray diffraction were employed as experimental techniques. It was found out that the low flux neutron irradiation promotes the growing of crystalline zones in the EPDM, which leads to an increase of the elastic modulus and a maximum in the loss tangent at around 310 K.