Relaxation behaviour of radiochemically aged EPDM elastomers

EPDM-type elastomers (70% ethylene; 28% propylene; diene monomer: 2% norbornene) were characterised before and after irradiation using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Three formulations were studied: pure elastomer, cross-linked elastomer with dicumyl peroxide and protected with a phenolic-type antioxidant agent. Two irradiation methods were used: gamma radiation, under oxygen, at a fixed dose rate of 1 kGy/h, for total integrated doses ranging from 50 to 450 kGy and electron irradiation, under inert atmosphere, at a dose rate of 500 kGy/h, for doses of 100 and 500 kGy. For both types of irradiation, for the three EPDM formulations and for any total integrated dose, DSC and DMA show that a cross-linking phenomenon predominates. Cross-linking increases with the total integrated dose. It is also observed that cross-linking is stronger with the gamma irradiation than with the electron irradiation, which confirms the influence of the oxidising atmosphere. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.