Thermomechanical Properties of Radiation-Modified Polyethylene/Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Copolymer/Liquid-Crystalline Copolyester Blends

Radiation-modified blends of high-density polyethylene (PE) with ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer (EPDM; 10-65 wt.%) and thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymer (LCP; 10 wt.%) were investigated. The LCP was a liquid-crystalline copolyester of 40% poly(ethylene terephthalate) with 60% 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. The constituents were blended using a circular extruder, the specimens were prepared by compression molding and irradiated by 60Co γ-radiation up to 200 kGy. Mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties in wide temperature range were investigated for the irradiated and non-irradiated specimens. The effects of irradiation on the thermomechanical behaviour of the PE matrix are discus…