The influence of EB-irradiated treatment on enhancing barrier property and crystallization behavior of rubber-toughened nanocomposites

Abstract

Electron beam (EB) irradiation technique was introduced to modify the crystallization and oxygen (O 2) barrier properties of high density-polyethylene (HDPE)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) matrix and HDPE/EPDM filled withorganophilic montmorillonite (OMMT). The absorbed dose for EB-irradiation was fixed at 100kGy. HDPE/EPDM matrix and HDPE/EPDM filled with OMMT at 4vol loading were prepared via melt intercalation method. It was found that the barrier resistance of HDPE/EPDM filled withOMMT against oxygen (O 2) transmission was significantly enhanced by EB-irradiation absorbed dose of 100kGy as compared to the control system. The crystallization temperature, T c, and melting temperature, T m, were also improved with the addition of OMMT along with the aids of EB-irradiation technique. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) revealed that the stacking condition of OMMT particles was greatly reduced by EB-irradiation treatment as evidenced by finer surface and less formation of voids. © 2011 N. A. Jamal et al.