CROSS-LINKING OF CIS-1,4-POLYISOPRENE RUBBER BY ELECTRON-BEAM IRRADIATION

Various unsaturated polyfunctional monomers were kneaded into cis-1,4- polyisoprene containing fillers under 80 degrees C and then irradiated using an electron beam accelerator to prepare vulcanized rubber with good quality. Results showed that 2G (diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) is the best sensitizer. The optimal tensile strength of vulcanized IR was obtained by using 14 phr 2G and irradiated to 180 kGy. Compared w ith the sulfur vulcanizate, greater values of tensile strength, elonga tion at break, and 100% stress were found with the radiation-cured IR. Their Young's modulus and tan delta were similar. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.