Enhanced physico-mechanical properties of EVA/PA blends via electron beam irradiation and vinyl acetate content

This study investigates the effects of electron beam (E-beam) irradiation on ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer/ternary polyamide (EVA/tPA) blends with varying vinyl acetate (VA) content (19%, 28%, and 33%). The EVA/tPA blends were exposed to E-beam doses ranging from 50 to 300 kGy, with the addition of trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTMA) and triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) as crosslinking co-agents. SEM analysis and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that increasing the VA content in the EVA/tPA blends significantly improved compatibility after E-beam irradiation, resulting in enhanced tensile strength, storage modulus, and surface smoothness. The EVA/tPA/TMPTMA blend with 33% VA content exhibited a remarkable 132% increase in tensile strength and a 212% increase in storage modulus due to enhanced crosslinking formation post-irradiation. However, irradiation led to a decrease in elongation at break and blend crystallinity. TMPTMA co-agents demonstrated superior compatibility compared to TAIC, further enhancing the overall properties of the EVA/tPA blends. In conclusion, E-beam irradiation is an effective technique for producing high-performance EVA/tPA blends by utilizing higher VA content and suitable co-agents. These improved materials hold great potential for various applications, particularly in the oil pipeline and automotive industries.Graphical abstractEnhanced EVA/PA blend properties via electron beam crosslinking