Electron beam irradiation effect on the mechanical, thermal and surface properties of fluoroelastomer

Abstract

Fluoroelastomer is a polymer used as a sealing material due to some excellent properties, such as resistance to high temperatures and to aggressive chemical substances, comparing to other elastomers. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the ionizing radiation of electron beam (EB) on the mechanical, thermal and surface properties of a commercial fluoroelastomer containing carbon black and other inorganic fillers. The material was irradiated with overall doses between 10 and 250 kGy. The evaluated mechanical properties were tensile strength (stress and strain at break), hardness (Shore A) and compression set. Thermal behavior was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Surface modifications were verified using optical and electronic microscopy. Experimental results showed that EB irradiation promotes significant changes in the fluoroelastomer mechanical properties, increases the glass transition temperature and induces a better adhesion between elastomer and fillers.