The effect of high-energy electron beam irradiation and content of ATH upon mechanical and thermal properties of EVA copolymer

Mechanical and thermal properties of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) mixed with various amounts of alumina trihydrate (ATH), irradiated with 5 MeV electron beam at dose range varied from 38 to 190 kGy, have been studied. A small amount of triallyl cyanurate has been used as a radiation sensitizer. It has been found that (i) EVA samples with various contents of ATH are crosslinked. (ii) crosslinking increases with irradiation dose, (iii) the mechanical properties of samples improve by irradiation and (iv) decomposition of samples takes place at two stages and due to irradiation, decomposition temperatures shift to higher values, These studies were carried out in order to obtain a suitable compound for wire and cable insulation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.