Structure property relationship of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer grafted with triallyl cyanurate by electron beam radiation

Electron beam (EB) initiated grafting of triallyl cyanurate (TAC) onto ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) containing 12% vinyl acetate has been carried out over a range of irradiation doses (20-200 kGy) and concentrations of TAC (0.5-5%). The grafting level, as determined from IR spectroscopy, does not change with the radiation dose at 0.5% TAG. With increase in TAC level the grafting level increases at 50 kGy dose. The gel content increases with radiation dose in the initial stage, whereas it changes marginally with the TAC level. With the increase in radiation dose or TAC level, the crystallinity decreases. The interplanar distance or the interchain distance of the grafted polymer does not change with dose or TAC level. The tensile strength is maximum at 0.5% TAC level and at 50 kGy dose. The dielectric loss shows a maximum at 50 kGy dose and at 0.5-1.0% TAG level due to changes of polarity and the carrier chain mobility. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.