Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.76, No.14, 2016-2025, 2000
Electron beam modification of filled fluorocarbon rubber
The effect of electron beam irradiation on the properties of carbon black-, silica-, and clay-filled fluorocarbon rubber has been studied over a range of radiation doses, loadings, and nature of the fillers. Compared to the unfilled irradiated rubber, the tensile strength and modulus improve with a decrease in the particle size of the carbon black filler. Similar improvement in these properties is observed with an increase in both the radiation dose and the amount of the filler upto a certain level. The dynamic mechanical analysis reveal an increased glass transition temperature (T-g), a reduced value of the mechanical loss factor at T-g. and an enhanced dynamic storage modulus for the filled samples. The results are explained with the help of sol-gel analysis and volume fraction of rubber. It is observed that higher reinforcement in the case of the filled vulcanizate is obtained by electron beam modification, as compared to that using the conventional curing system.