Abstract
For the purpose of co-vulcanization of polyethylene (PE) with rubber, PE-butadiene graft copolymer (GP), which had been prepared from low density PE and butadiene by γ-irradiation, was blended in cis-1, 4 polybutadiene (BR). Then the properties of sulfur-vulcanized BR/GP blend polymers (BG) were compared with those of sulfur-vulcanized BR/PE blend polymers (BP).
While the Mooney viscosities of compounded BP are lower than those of BR, there are little differences between those of BG and BR. Vulcanizing rates of BG are higher than those of BR. From the sulfur vulcanized BP, PE is extracted by hot toluene, but not from BG. Therefore, it is considered that GP has been co-vulcanized with BR by sulfur in BG.
Sulfur vulcanized BG has the higher tensile strength, modulus, tear strength and hardness than those of BP of the same PE content. It has better abrasion resistance and compression set than those of BP.
