Changes in the crystalline degree in neutron irradiated EPDM viewed through infrared spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering

OSVALDO A LAMBRI; ENRIQUE D.V. GIORDANO; FEDERICO BONIFACICH; MONICA JIMENEZ-RUIZ; MARIEL A. LAMBRI; F A SÁNCHEZ; JOSÉ IGNACIO PÉREZ-LANDAZÁBAL; JOSÉ A GARCÍA; CARLOS E. BOSCHETTI; VICENTE RECARTE; FERNANDO PLAZAOLA; PABLO SALVATORI

REVISTA MATéRIA

UNIV FED RIO DE JANEIRO

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2018 vol. 23

1517-7076

The changes in the degree of crystallinity in commercial Ethylene Propylene Diene rubber-type M (EPDM)irradiated with neutrons at different doses has been studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering andinfrared absorption spectroscopy experiments. EPDM samples were taken from the housing of non-ceramicelectrical insulators which are used in outdoor transmission lines of 66 kV. Inelastic neutron scatteringspectra were recorded at 5 K with an accessible energy-transfer range between 180 - 3500 cm-1. Infraredstudies were performed at room temperature with an energy transfer between 4000 - 400 cm-1. Controlledneutron irradiation allows to obtain different volume fraction and size of crystalline zones in EPDM. Theobtained results are discussed and correlated with studies of differential scanning calorimetry, dynamicmechanical analysis and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy from where the changes in crystallinityin EPDM were indirectly studied. Inelastic neutron scattering studies were not appropriate for determiningthe changes in the crystallinity degree in neutron irradiated commercial EPDM. In contrast, from infraredabsorption spectroscopy the changes in crystallinity could be determined successfully.