RADIODEGRADATION OF ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE ELASTOMERS BLENDINGS WITH POLYSTYRENE

The ethylene-propylene copolymer compounds with polystyrene emphasize action of polystyrene, in order to slow the degradation of the tested elastomers (EPDM, EPR) under the ionizing radiation (Co-60) attack. The hindering process on the sample changements may be assigned to the radical capacity (the radicals generated by the gamma dammage of the additive polystyrene) to scavenge the major radical entities provided by the elastomers. The evaluation of the tested compound under the gamma radiation action was performed by means of the infra red spectroscopy and the gel content measurements. Both procedures have proved the practical useful purpose of these polymeric homogeneous mixtures in the manufacture of high resistance items placed in an aggressive chemical environment.