ELECTRON BEAM PROCESSING.

Abstract

This paper presents the main features of electron beam-vulcanization of rubber and outlines advantages of this technique over standard chemical curing. The fundamental difference between conventional and radiation cures is the temperature at which crosslinking takes place. The morphology of the rubber is dependent on temperature, and in the case of crystalline rubbers, is crucial. In such materials, radiation crosslinking is believed to take place in the amorphous regions only, thereby highly concentrating the distribution of crosslinks. Conventional curing of rubbers, on the other hand, takes place at high temperatures, and therefore with rubber in an entirely amorphous state. This leads to a more random distribution of crosslinks. Economic considerations are included. Present and future applications are outlined.