Properties of radiation‐modified blends of polyethylene with elastomers and liquid crystalline copolyester

The results are given on the effect of γ‐irradiation on properties of blends of high and low‐density polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE) with elastomers ‐ethylene/propylene/diene rubber (EPDM) and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), and thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP). The morphological, thermal, mechanical properties (including thermosetting properties) and adhesion properties of blended composites were investigated. A special attention was paid to the applicability of the blends as thermosetting materials (TSM). The LCP used was a copolyester of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with p‐(hydroxybenzoic acid) in the ratio 40 : 60. It was found that addition of LCP essentially influenced the thermomechanical and adhesion properties of PE composites, irradiated up to the absorbed dose 150 kGy, as well as the dimensional stability of thermosetting products, made from polyethylene/elastomer mixtures. The results show that such ternary blends considerably improve the exploitation conditions of irradiated polyethylene and useful thermosetting materials can be obtained.