Preparation of EPDM/Polyamide12 Elastomers through Electron Beam Irradiation

Polyamide12 (PA12) is blended with ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) at various compositions in the presence of maleated EPDM (mEPDM) to afford blend materials having the characteristics of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The EPDM/PA12 melt-blends are further irradiated with electron-beam (e-beam) at 0 similar to 100 kGy dosage, yielding selective crosslinking between EPDM chains while retaining melt-processibility originated from PA12 phase. mEPDM acts as a compatibilizer and affords additional improvements in mechanical properties of the EPDM/PA12 blend. With 25 kGy of e-beam irradiation and mEPDM, the EPDM/PA12 blends successfully exhibit TPE behaviors with reasonable elastomeric and mechanical properties.