Abstract
Electron-beam irradiation-induced structural and properties changes on ethylene–styrene interpolymers (ESI) have been studied at electron doses ranging from 0 to 200 kGy. The amounts of species generated by irradiation such as hydroxyls, hydroperoxides, carbonyls and unsaturated double bonds have been analyzed using ATR-FTIR. While the structural changes are minimal for ESI69 comprising 69 wt.% styrene regardless of the dose level, the changes for ESI40 comprising 40 wt.% styrene are dose dependent and reaches a maximum at a dose of 100 kGy. Gel permeation chromatography analysis indicates that macromolecular chain scission occurs at low irradiation dose and crosslinking dominates at high irradiation doses. The average molecular weights between crosslinks, M C’s, have been calculated using the Flory–Rehner equation based on data collected from solvent extraction experiments. The M C’s of ESI40 samples are much smaller than those of ESI69 samples. Irradiated ESI samples have higher glass transition temperatures as well as thermal decomposition temperatures. The electron-beam irradiation also causes an increase in the Young’s modulus of ESI69 samples and a decrease in the elongation at break of ESI40 samples.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
