Sensitizing effect of polyfunctional monomers on radiation crosslinking ofpolychloroprene

Radiation-induced crosslinking of polychloroprene containing nine different polyfunctional monomers (PFM) has been investigated. The PFMs were kneaded into polychloroprene on a Labo Plastomill at 80 degrees C, and then the mi xtures were irradiated using an electron beam accelerator, to initiate the crosslinking reaction. The results showed that the crosslinking density (1/ M-c) of the product is linearly proportional to the absorbed dose (D) and t he initial PFM content (Co), i.e. 1/M-c=(A + KC0)D, where A and K are const ants. The values of K increased quickly with the specific unsaturation (mol es of double bonds per 100 g of the monomer) of the PFMs. The tensile stren gth of crosslinked polychloroprene with 4G (Polyethyleneglycol 200 dimethyl acrylate) or UA101H(Urethane prepolymer) was found to be the best. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.