| Abstract: | Blends prepared by melt mixing of thermoplastic elastomer have gained considerable attention in recent years from a heat shrinkability point of view. Our present study deals with the measurement of heat shrinkability of the maleic anhydride grafted low‐density polyethylene and ethylene acrylic elastomer. Two samples have been prepared to study the effect of coupling agent's reactivity on the shrinkability of the blends. The coupling agents used are 4,4′‐diamino diphenyl sulphone, and 4,4′‐diamino diphenyl methane. Shrinkability was measured at room temperature, 120 °C, 150 °C, and 180 °C. Shrinkability is found to be greater in high temperature stretched sample rather than that of room temperature stretched sample. It is observed that reactivity as well as heat shrinkability is more when 4,4′‐diamino diphenyl methane is used as a coupling agent. The mechanism of interchain crosslinking reaction has been confirmed by IR spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry was performed to study the thermal stability of the sample. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
