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Mechanical and thermal properties of blends of low‐density polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate crosslinked by both dicumyl peroxide and ionizing radiation for wire and cable applications
Author(s) -
Basfar A. A.,
Mosnáček J.,
Shukri T. M.,
Bahattab M. A.,
Noireaux P.,
Courdreuse A.
Publication year - 2007
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.27114
Subject(s) - low density polyethylene , materials science , ammonium polyphosphate , polyethylene , composite material , ethylene vinyl acetate , maleic anhydride , thermal stability , polymer chemistry , intumescent , vinyl acetate , heat deflection temperature , boric acid , ultimate tensile strength , copolymer , fire retardant , izod impact strength test , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer
Abstract Formulations of chemically crosslinked and radiation‐crosslinked low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) containing an intumescent flame retardant such as ammonium polyphosphate were prepared. The influence of blending LDPE with a poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) copolymer (EVA) and the effects of various coadditives, including polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PEgMA), vinyl silane with boric acid, and talc, on the mechanical and thermal properties were investigated. Chemical crosslinking by dicumyl peroxide and crosslinking by ionizing radiation from an electron‐beam accelerator were both used and compared. Improved mechanical properties were observed by the partial replacement of LDPE with EVA. Similar mechanical or thermal properties were observed with coadditives such as PEgMA and vinyl silane with boric acid. The addition of a small amount of talc improved the tensile strength of the formulations. All crosslinked formulations showed good thermal stability on the basis of the retention of mechanical properties after thermal aging for 168 h at 135°C and a hot‐set test. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008