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Photodegradation of thermoplastic elastomeric rubber–polyethylene blends
Author(s) -
Bhowmick Anil K,
Heslop J.,
White J. R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.10831
Subject(s) - natural rubber , materials science , photodegradation , thermoplastic elastomer , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , thermoplastic , vulcanization , elastomer , polyethylene , curing (chemistry) , peroxide , polymer blend , degradation (telecommunications) , copolymer , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , photocatalysis , telecommunications , computer science , catalysis
The photodegradation of a new family of thermoplastic elastomers, based on blends of natural rubber and polyethylene, was studied with laboratory ultraviolet exposures in the unstrained state and under tensile strain (25 and 50%). Strained exposure caused reduction of the strain to failure in subsequent tensile tests. The blends were more resistant to degradation than the natural rubber homopolymer. The introduction of crosslinks (at a low concentration so that the thermoplastic nature of the blends was retained) changed the resistance to photo‐oxidation. Two different crosslinking systems were used. When dicumyl peroxide was used as the crosslinking agent, the resistance to degradation was reduced, whereas the compound containing a sulfur curing system showed improved resistance to photodegradation. Photo‐oxidation rather than ozone degradation was found to be the major cause of breakdown, even with samples held in tension. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2393–2402, 2002