Electron beam modification of thermoplastic elastomeric blends made from polyolefins

Thermoplastic elastomeric films have been prepared from blends of ethylene vinylacetate copolymer (EVA) with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-den sity polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) by electron beam modificati on in presence of radiation sensitizer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differe ntial scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to evaluate the structural changes of these blends. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates the m orphological features of the blends. Significant improvements of mechanical , dynamic mechanical and set properties have been obtained by electron beam modification of the blends of EVA with LDPE and HDPE. However, in the case of EVA/PP, degradation of the PP phase has been observed. The effects of d itrimethylol propane tetraacrylate (DTMPTA) as radiation sensitizer have al so been evaluated from the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. (C ) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.