Effect of Electron Beam Irradiation on the Properties of High Styrene Rubber/Styrene Butadiene Rubber Blends

• Published in: Journal of macromolecular science. Part A, Pure and applied chemistry Pure and applied chemistry, 2009-06, Vol.46 (6), p.636-642
• Main Author: Youssef, H. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Electron beam irradiation; Exact sciences and technology; mechanical properties; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers and radiations; Properties and characterization; shape memory effect; stretching temperatures
• ISSN: 1060-1325; 1520-5738
• DOI: 10.1080/10601320902852007

High styrene rubber (HSR)/styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) blends at different ratios were exposed to various doses of electron beam irradiation. The effect of irradiation dose and blend ratios on the mechanical properties and shape memory characteristics in terms of strain fixation) rate (R f ) and strain recovery rate (R r ) was investigated. The results revealed that rich styrene blends displayed higher tensile strength and hardness than low styrene content blends at all irradiation doses. However, elongation at break, and toughness were lower for rich styrene content. Also, it was observed that for most specimens, the tensile strength, elongation at break and hardness increases up to100 kGy. Increasing irradiation doses resulted in slight deterioration in some mechanical properties only for low styrene content at150 kGy. According to the normalized tensile stress at 25% elongation, it was found that the contribution of irradiation in enhancing the mechanical properties is higher for rich butadiene blends. On the other hand, it was observed that rich styrene content blends possess higher R f and R r at all the irradiation doses and stretching temperatures. However, the increase of irradiation dose decreases R f values; the extent of this decrease depends on the blend ratios. Conversely, for all blends, R r were increased by increasing irradiation dose and styrene content ratios.