Electron beam modification of thermoplastic elastomeric blends made from polyolefins

Thermoplastic elastomeric films have been prepared from blends of ethylene vinylacetate copolymer (EVA) with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) by electron beam modification in presence of radiation sensitizer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to evaluate the structural changes of these blends. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates the morphological features of the blends. Significant improvements of mechanical, dynamic mechanical and set properties have been obtained by electron beam modification of the blends of EVA with LDPE and HDPE. However, in the case of EVA/PP, degradation of the PP phase has been observed. The effects of ditrimethylol propane tetraacrylate (DTMPTA) as radiation sensitizer have also been evaluated from the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.