Three chlorine containing rubbers, i.e., polychloroprene (CR), polyepichlorohydrin (CHR), and epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide copolymer (CHC) were chosen, and the vulcanizates of them were prepared using ethylenethiourea. The three vulcanizates were subject to solvent extraction to purify them, followed by the γ-ray irradiation in air at room temperature. The deterioration by γ-ray (0-20Mrad) was investigated by the changes of tensile properties and solubility behaviors. CR vulcanizate suffered further crosslinking by the irradiation, consequently the increases of netowrk-chain density (ν
e), tensile modulus, and hardness were observed. On the other hand, CHR and CHC were found to be degradation-type rubbers, i.e., ν
e, modulus and hardness decreased by the irradiation. By the Horikx theory, they are estimated to undergo random scission in their main chain. Polymer-solvent interaction parameters were found 0.414 for CR, 0.336 for CHR, and 0.357 for CHC.
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