Evaluation of compatibility of EPDM and butyl rubber - II. Thermal and radiation stability

The exposure of ethylene-propylene terpolymer/butyl rubber blends to gamma radiation was carried out in order to evaluate the level of their compatibi lization. Three concentrations of the components (3:1, 1:1 and 1:3) were pr epared. Gel content measurements were performed in o-xylene and oxygen upta ke was used to characterize the oxidation stability of irradiated specimens . The optimal dose range for efficient crosslinking of EPDM/IIR blends is a round 200 kGy. The derivatives of the [O-2] = f(t) dependences indicate the order of thermal stability of radiochemically processed samples. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.