The changes in crosslinking. chlorine or sulphur content and unsaturation w
ere determined for three concentrations of hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butad
iene rubber (HNBR)/chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) blends (25:75, 50:5
0 and 75:25 wt%), and for their individual components. Thermal degradation
was carried out over the temperature range from 150 up to 190 degrees C; ra
diation exposure was performed at three irradiation doses: 100, 200 and 300
kGy. Mechanistic aspects of thermal and radiation ageing are pointed out.
It was found that the high activation energy required during the thermal de
gradation of the studied polymer systems is a consequence of the interactio
n of mixed components. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.