The comparison of EPDM/clay nanocomposites and conventional composites in exposure of gamma irradiation

The effect of gamma irradiation on the properties of EPDM/clay nanocomposites and its conventional composites with pristine clay is studied. The dispersion of the silicate layers in the EPDM matrix is characterized by XRD (X-ray Diffractometer) and TEM (Transition Electron Microscopy) analyses. XRD and TEM results indicate that the alkylammonium chains are intercalated between the nanolayers silicate after modification. The mechanical behavior of samples is investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile test. The DMTA results demonstrate that their α-relaxation peaks are shifted to higher temperature, and storage modulus increases with increase of irradiation dose. The experimental data suggest that the exposure of EPDM hybrids to gamma rays improves the tensile strength of samples at lower irradiation doses due to cross-linking effect. The nanocomposites exhibit superior irradiation-resistance properties than that of unfilled EPDM and conventional composites.