Effect of interchain crosslinking on the shrinkability of the blends consisting of grafted low-density polyethylene and carboxylated nitrile rubber

Blend prepared by melt mixing of thermoplastic elastomer has gained conside rable attention in recent years. The present study deals with the measureme nt of heat shrinkability of the blends of the low-density polyethylene (LDP E) and carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR). Two samples have been prepared f or this purpose. In the first sample, LDPE is blended with XNBR, while in t he second sample, glycidyl acrylate (GA) grafted LDPE is blended with XNBR. It is revealed that interchain crosslinking in the grafted LDPE and XNBR i mproves the heat shrinkability. Here, crosslinked point between rubber and plastic molecules serve as memory point during the recovery process, which is responsible for the improvement of heat shrinkability. High temperature performance of the sample (as far as shrinkability is concerned) depends on interchain crosslinking. The mechanism of interchain crosslinking reaction is confirmed by infrared (IR) spectroscopic analysis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.