EB radiation crosslinking of elastomers

Radiation-induced crosslinking is proposed as successful alternative to conventional, chemical methods of crosslinking of elastomers. Hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber was irradiated with 10 MeV electron beam to doses up to 300 kGy. Irradiated samples were investigated for the extent of crosslinking and for properties important for understanding of mechanisms. It follows from sol-gel analysis, that for 100 crosslinking acts there are 6-9 acts of chain scission. It is less than expected from the 20% participation of multi-ionization spurs, also in the solid state, as announced during the previous 9th Tihany Conference (Radiat. Phys. Chem. 56 (1999) 559). However, the apparent too low yield of multi-ionization spurs could be explained by partial conversion of scission products into crosslinks of specific trifunctional Y type. Our investigations confirm the usefulness of consideration of different radiation spurs in polymers, as well as in all, low LET irradiated media. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.