A study on precuring of natural rubber/styrene butadiene rubber by use of electron beams irradiation

Natural rubber(NR)/styrene butadiene rubber(SBR) blends was precured by electron beams(EB) irradiation. The crosslinking degree, green strength and heat curing speed of NR/SBR were studied with different absorbed doses. And the effects of EB irradiation precuring on the final mechanical properties were evaluated. The results show that the crosslinking degree and green strength of NR/SBR was improved respectively while the heat curing speed was not changed with increasing absorbed doses. The final mechanical properties were not significantly changed between the irradiation precuring and non-irradiation precuring of NR/SBR. The EB irradiation precuring of NR/SBR may be suitable for rubber process. (authors)