Influence of fillers on mechanical properties of ATH filled EPDM during ageing by gamma irradiation

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 95; no. 6; pp. 1029 - 1038
• Main Authors: Planes, Emilie, Chazeau, Laurent, Vigier, Gérard, Fournier, Jérôme, Stevenson-Royaud, Isabelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aging; Applied sciences; Attenuation; Composites; Degradation; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Filled rubber; Fillers; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Gamma irradiation; Gamma rays; Irradiation; Mechanical properties; Mechanics; Mechanics of materials; Melting; Physics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Strain; Technology of polymers; Irradiation; Mechanical properties; Filled rubber; Aluminium hydroxide; Dispersion reinforced material; Tensile property; Experimental study; Composite material; Polymer filler interaction; EPDM rubber; Radiation dose; Gamma radiation; Vulcanizate; Morphology; Artificial ageing; Radiochemical degradation; Radiochemical stability; Unique-ID = ISI:000278750800017; Number-of-Cited-References = 37; FLUX; RUBBER; COMPOSITES; Journal-ISO = Polym. Degrad. Stabil; Keywords-Plus = TEMPERATURE THERMAL-OXIDATION; POLYETHYLENE; Times-Cited = 0; ELASTOMERS; Subject-Category = Polymer Science; Author-Email = laurent.chazeau@insa-lyon.fr; RELAXATION BEHAVIOR; REINFORCEMENT; LOW-DOSE RATE; Doc-Delivery-Number = 610RA
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.03.008

The presence of a significant content of fillers accelerates the degradation of ATH filled EPDM subjected to gamma irradiation at room temperature. Above the melting temperature of the EPDM, this induces a decrease in the apparent mechanical reinforcement of the fillers. This also promotes de-cohesion mechanisms which leads to an increase in the strain at break with irradiation dose. It is not clear whether the use of a filler treatment attenuates this accelerating effect or not; however, part of this treatment remains efficient at a high dose and seems also to delay but not suppress the occurrence of de-cohesion mechanisms at large strain. Moreover, at room temperature, i.e. below the melting temperature, all the consequences of ageing by gamma irradiation are strongly attenuated by the presence of a semi-crystalline microstructure, the morphology of which is not too strongly modified by irradiation.