Title: Investigation on the influence of crosslink promoter on the irradiation crosslinking, dynamic mechanical property and thermal stability of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/natural rubber (SMR L)/organoclay nanocomposites

Authors: Y. Munusamy; H. Ismail; C.T. Ratnam

Addresses: Petrochemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia ' Polymer Division, School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia ' Radiation Processing Technology Division, Malaysia Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Electron beam crosslinked EVA/SMR L/organoclay nanocomposites had been produced by using a crosslink promoter, TMPTA. The EVA to SMR L ratio was fixed at 50:50 and the organoclay loading used was 2 phr and 8 phr. When the nanocomposites were irradiated up to 200 kGy without TMPTA, the gel fraction was below 55%, but with addition of 3 phr TMPTA the gel fraction increased to 80%. Different level of irradiation dose also was found to form different phase morphology on the nanocomposites as shown in the SEM micrographs. Analysis on FT-IR spectrum proved that the addition of TMPTA improved the crosslinking and grafting, whereas incorporation of organoclay reduces oxidative degradation of the nanocomposites. DMA analysis showed that both storage modulus and glass transition values increased with addition of TMPTA at all irradiation doses. However, the improvement of thermal decomposition temperatures of nanocomposites with TMPTA were lower compared to non-irradiated nanocomposites.

Keywords: nanocomposites; electron beam irradiation; organoclay; crosslink promoters; irradiation crosslinking; nanotechnology; mechanical properties; thermal stability; ethylene vinyl acetate; EVA; natural rubber.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2013.057158

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2013 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.325 - 342

Published online: 19 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article