Electron Beam Irradiation of LLDPE and PDMS Rubber Blends: Studies on the Physicomechanical Properties

Blends of semicrystalline linear low-density polyethylene and amorphous polydimethyl siloxane rubber were prepared by varying the blend ratios from 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70 to 0:1.00 by melt-blending technique in an internal mixer under previously optimized process conditions using Taguchi methodology. The molded sheets were Subjected to electron beam irradiation under varying radiation doses starting from 100, 200, 300, 400 to 500 kGy in an accelerator. The physicomechanical properties of the blends before and after electron beam radiation have been studied, anti the optimum dose required for each blend ratio for Optimum physicomechancial properties has been investigated. A radiation dose of 100 to 300 kGy is found to be sufficient for obtaining the best balance in tensile strength and tensile impact strength properties. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 27: 98-107, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20120