Effects of electron beam irradiation on fluoroelastomer properties

Fluoroelastomer is a polymer usually used as a sealing material due to some excellent properties comparing to other elastomers, such as good resistance to high temperatures and to the attack of chemical substances. The fluoroelastomer used in this work was a commercial product obtained from two monomers, vinylidene and hexafluoropropylene, containing also carbon black and inorganic fillers. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the ionizing radiation of electron beam (EB) on the tensile, hardness and thermal properties of this sealing material obtained by a conventional curing process. The overall doses applied were 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200 and 250 kGy. Tension tests showed that the tensile stress at break increases 34 % in the range of radiation dose applied. On the other hand, the total strain decreases considerably, from 347 % to 109 %, with the increase of the radiation dose. Hardness Shore A values increase 15 % in the range of radiation dose studied. Thermogravimetric curves showed that there are no considerable variations on the onset temperatures for all samples in the range of radiation doses applied. These results indicate that EB radiation produces modifications on the fluoroelastomer mechanical properties, but without promoting considerable chain scission. The modifications on the mechanical properties can be related to a better adhesion, induced by radiation, between the fluoroelastomer and the fillers. (author)