Influence of Electron Beam Irradiation and Step-Crosslinking Process on Solvent Penetration and Thermal Properties of Natural Rubber Vulcanizates

The influence of both beam irradiation and step cross-linking on high abrasion furnace (HAF) carbon black loaded natural rubber (NR) vulcanizates are reported. With irradiation, a higher cross-link density, ν, thermal conductivity, λ, and glass transition temperature, Tg, have been observed for such materials, as compared with the un-irradiated ones. There is also a decreased specific heat capacity, Cp. Meanwhile, the step cross-linking process has a slight effect on the cross-link density, glass transition temperature and thermal properties of these composites. The results of such changes in thermal conductivity are explained with the help of a simple modified model.