DSC STUDIES ON SPECIFIC-HEAT CAPACITY OF IRRADIATED ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE ELASTOMERS - II - EPDM

Changes in the specific heat capacity of ethylene-propylene-diene terp olymer (EPDM) containing 3.5% ENB were investigated over a temperature range from 340 up to 440 K. Exposure to gamma radiation was carried o ut at various doses up to 600 kGy. Evaluation of c(p) was done using O 'Neill's method with aluminia as standard. Specific heat capacity of E PDM changed differently if irradiation was performed in air or in vacu um. The shape of c(p) = f(T) curves depends on the competition of scis sion and crosslinking and on later reactions involving long life radic als. Radiation resistance of EPDM can be evaluated by determination of change in specific heat capacity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.