Thermal stability of gamma irradiated ethylene propylene diene monomer composites for shielding applications.

The effect of gamma‐irradiation on the ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) based composites, loaded with tungsten and barium sulfate were investigated for radiation resistance properties. The tungsten and barium sulfate fillers were added in different proportion (wt%) to EPDM matrix and prepared using compression molding technique. The developed EPDM composites were exposed to 60Co gamma radiation doses from 0 to 400 kGy. The swelling index of the composites were studied for the irradiated samples and found to decrease with higher gamma doses. Tensile characterization was also carried out and elongation at break, tensile strength and modulus at 100% elongation have been determined for gamma irradiated EPDM based composites. Tensile properties were modified in the irradiated samples and elongation at break is decreased whereas the modulus increases as a function of gamma dose due to increases in crosslinking after irradiation. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed and observed improvement in thermal stability of gamma irradiated EPDM composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]