Investigation of radiation-crosslinked foam of LDPE/EVA blends

Abstract

Low-density polyethylene/ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (LDPE/EVA) blend was irradiated by γ-ray and then expanded by heat as a foamed material. The EVA content in the LDPE/EVA blend was benefited to form a gel. The gel fraction values of LDPE/EVA blend with 30% EVA content were higher than those of other blends in a same given dose; its gel fraction value was 1.7 times as those values of the LDPE without EVA. The gel fractions of the LDPE/EVA blend were increased with radiation dose in oxygen, in air, and in nitrogen, and the formation of gel was limited by oxygen. The oxidation products of the foam of the LDPE/EVA blend were observed in nitrogen, in oxygen by Fourier transform IR spectra. The LDPE/EVA blend system has no protection effect from oxidation in comparison with the LDPE system without EVA, which has less oxidation product than those without EVA in a same given gel fraction. The gel fraction of the LDPE/EVA blend around 25–35%, radiation dose 25±5 kGy, irradiated by γ-ray in air or in nitrogen, with higher expansion ratio (19), smaller cell diameter (0.175 mm), lower apparent density (0.042 g/cm3), higher tensile strength (0.40 MPa), and longer elongation at break (290–360%) foam of the LDPE/EVA blend were selected. These were optimum condition for application in this system. The relations among gel fraction of the LDPE/EVA blend, expansion ratio, apparent density, average cell diameter, and mechanical properties of the foam were discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.