Radiation crosslinked Polyolefinic blends: exploring thermally tuned dual Shape Memory character

Abstract

Shape memory behavior of thermally triggered polymeric materials based on ethylene octene copolymer (EOC) and ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) has been studied in details. Investigation of the shape memory behavior of uncrosslinked EOC-EPDM and electron beam crosslinked EOC-EPDM blends have been pursued thoroughly. Shape memory study has been carried out at 60°C, which shows that with the effect of electron beam radiation shape fixity behavior of the crosslinked blends becomes poor as compared with its uncrosslinked blend system whereas the improvement in shape recovery behavior takes place after the exposure to electron beam radiation. Morphology study by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and crystallinity study by X-ray diffraction analysis also give the clear idea regarding the formation of crosslinked network structure. Improvement in gel content with increasing radiation dose supports the formation of network structure. Even after the crosslinking in presence of electron beam radiation also, it has been found that crosslinked EPDM rich blends is superior in terms of shape memory behavior point of view. Lower decay of stress value coupled with lower relaxation ratio of crosslinked EPDM rich blend support its superior shape memory behavior.

Unique shape memory behavior of polyolefinic blends with special reference to creep behavior, stress relaxation, and melt rheological study

“…Presence of crosslinked network improves the shape recovery behavior, decrease the shape recovery induction time, and so forth. of SMP blends . Several shape memory polymer blends have been reported by several authors including polyethylene/polycyclooctene , PVDF/PMMA , SBS/PCL , and EOC/EPDM .…”

“…In their previous work , authors have reported the shape memory character of the EOC‐EPDM blends system. The author has studied distinguishedly the shape meomory behavior of the blend both in the uncrosslinked and crosslinked (by electron beam) state.…”

High shape‐memory effect of hindered phenol/nitrile–butadiene rubber composites by forming hydrogen bonding

“…Many attempts were made to adjust the temperature range of T g of SMPs. There are some studies on rubber‐based SMPs . Most of them were prepared by blending plastic and rubber and tailoring the ratio of rubber/plastic to tailor T g and gain excellent SMPs.…”

New high impact polystyrene: Use of poly(1‐hexene) and poly(1‐hexene‐co‐hexadiene) as impact modifiers

“…Polymer blending is one of the cheapest methods of tailoring polymeric materials for specific applications. The gain in new properties depends on the degree of compatibility or miscibility of the polymers in the intermolecular level …”