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Moldable thermoplastic elastomers: Electrical worker gloves and sleeves
Author(s) -
Bigg D. M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.10533
Subject(s) - materials science , elastomer , composite material , thermoplastic elastomer , natural rubber , polyethylene , thermoplastic , compatibility (geochemistry) , polymer blend , copolymer , polymer
A series of blends of styrene‐isoprene‐styrene block copolymers and ultralow density polyethylenes were evaluated for mechanical and electrical properties. A number of these blends were found to be suitable for use as moldable gloves for electrical workers. The mechanical properties exceeded those required of natural rubber solvent dipped gloves. The electrical properties were also found to satisfactorily meet the required levels of voltage and current resistance. Of particular importance were the blends in which the SIS component comprised the matrix phase. These blends exhibited low values of hardness, which made the resulting material highly flexible and compliant. The addition of polyethylene to the SIS elastomer reduced the surface tack to an acceptable level, without negatively affecting the other key properties of the elastomer. Good interfacial compatibility was found at low levels of each component in the other.