Effect of octene content on thermal and mechanical properties of crosslinked ethylene-octene copolymers

Abstract

Two ethylene-octene copolymers (EOC - with octene wt.% of 20 and 35) were crosslinked using dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Crosslinking studies were done using rubber process analyzer (RPA) at 150-200 °C range. Highest s'<inf>max</inf> (maximum elastic torque) was found for EOC-20 with low octene content, always. High-octene EOC underwent more degradation. From dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), storage modulus (M') and glass transition temperature (T<inf>g</inf>) were found decreasing with increasing octene content. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed the inverse effect of octene content on crystallinity and melting point. For high-octene EOC, increased β-scission has resulted in the poorer crosslinking and inferior properties.