Mechanical and flame retardant enhancement of EVA/MWCNTs neutron shielding composites irradiated with high-energy electron beam

Using a melt-mixing technique, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers based composites containing Multi-Wall Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), aluminum trihydrate (ATH), zinc borate (ZB), and gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) were fabricated. Then, the as-prepared samples were irradiated with an electron beam (EB) at the dose range varied from 0 to 275 kGy. Moreover, we investigated the properties of irradiated and unirradiated samples. Morphological observation showed good dispersion of MWCNTs and other additives in EVA. Furthermore, the gel content, mechanical properties, the limit oxygen index (LOI) values of irradiated composites increased to 28.4% after 250 kGy after irradiated. All the conclusions indicated that the comprehensive properties of the WMCNTs/EVA composites were improved by using high energy electron beam irradiation.