Dynamic Mechanical and Charlesby-Pinner Analyses of Radiation Cross-Linked Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA)

The properties of EVA copolymers with various vinyl acetate (VA) contents were compared, with EVA 206 (6 wt.% VA) and EVA 212 (12 wt.% VA) having the same melt flow indices of 2 g/10 min. The impact of electron irradiation at levels of 60, 120, and 180 kGy was studied. Four testing methods were empl...

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Main Authors: Anna Svarcova, Petr Svoboda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1485
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author Anna Svarcova
Petr Svoboda
author_facet Anna Svarcova
Petr Svoboda
author_sort Anna Svarcova
collection DOAJ
description The properties of EVA copolymers with various vinyl acetate (VA) contents were compared, with EVA 206 (6 wt.% VA) and EVA 212 (12 wt.% VA) having the same melt flow indices of 2 g/10 min. The impact of electron irradiation at levels of 60, 120, and 180 kGy was studied. Four testing methods were employed as follows: wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD); differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), using a high-temperature frequency sweep at 150 °C; and gel content analysis. The amount of crystalline phase was determined by WAXD and DSC. Copolymers with a higher VA content (EVA 212) had lower crystallinity. The increase in the amorphous phase allows for the greater movement of radicals, enabling them to react and form cross-links. The effects of the VA content, radiation dose, and frequency on dynamic mechanical properties were investigated by DMA. The DMA analysis focused on the shear storage modulus <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi>G</mi><mo>′</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>, damping factor <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>tan</mi><mi>δ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and complex viscosity <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mi>η</mi><mo>*</mo></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. After irradiation, the damping factor <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>tan</mi><mi>δ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> decreased with an increasing VA content, indicating improved elasticity and a higher degree of cross-linking. A gel content analysis was used to calculate the parameters of the Charlesby-Pinner and Charlesby–Rosiak equations, which help with the determination of the relationship between cross-linking and chain scission. The ratio of cross-linking to scission <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>G</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>X</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>/</mo><mi>G</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> was higher for the EVA with a higher VA content (EVA 212). Due to a higher VA content (12 wt.%), EVA 212 exhibits more efficient network formation.
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spelling doaj-art-afa7f3e7ece4470da78595703b4ed74d2025-08-20T03:06:16ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-03-01307148510.3390/molecules30071485Dynamic Mechanical and Charlesby-Pinner Analyses of Radiation Cross-Linked Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA)Anna Svarcova0Petr Svoboda1Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Vavreckova 5669, 76001 Zlin, Czech RepublicDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Vavreckova 5669, 76001 Zlin, Czech RepublicThe properties of EVA copolymers with various vinyl acetate (VA) contents were compared, with EVA 206 (6 wt.% VA) and EVA 212 (12 wt.% VA) having the same melt flow indices of 2 g/10 min. The impact of electron irradiation at levels of 60, 120, and 180 kGy was studied. Four testing methods were employed as follows: wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD); differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), using a high-temperature frequency sweep at 150 °C; and gel content analysis. The amount of crystalline phase was determined by WAXD and DSC. Copolymers with a higher VA content (EVA 212) had lower crystallinity. The increase in the amorphous phase allows for the greater movement of radicals, enabling them to react and form cross-links. The effects of the VA content, radiation dose, and frequency on dynamic mechanical properties were investigated by DMA. The DMA analysis focused on the shear storage modulus <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi>G</mi><mo>′</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>, damping factor <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>tan</mi><mi>δ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and complex viscosity <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mi>η</mi><mo>*</mo></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. After irradiation, the damping factor <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>tan</mi><mi>δ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> decreased with an increasing VA content, indicating improved elasticity and a higher degree of cross-linking. A gel content analysis was used to calculate the parameters of the Charlesby-Pinner and Charlesby–Rosiak equations, which help with the determination of the relationship between cross-linking and chain scission. The ratio of cross-linking to scission <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>G</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>X</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>/</mo><mi>G</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> was higher for the EVA with a higher VA content (EVA 212). Due to a higher VA content (12 wt.%), EVA 212 exhibits more efficient network formation.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1485ethylene vinyl acetateelectron beam irradiationcross-linkingcrystallinityfrequency sweepgel content
spellingShingle Anna Svarcova
Petr Svoboda
Dynamic Mechanical and Charlesby-Pinner Analyses of Radiation Cross-Linked Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA)
Molecules
ethylene vinyl acetate
electron beam irradiation
cross-linking
crystallinity
frequency sweep
gel content
title Dynamic Mechanical and Charlesby-Pinner Analyses of Radiation Cross-Linked Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA)
title_full Dynamic Mechanical and Charlesby-Pinner Analyses of Radiation Cross-Linked Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA)
title_fullStr Dynamic Mechanical and Charlesby-Pinner Analyses of Radiation Cross-Linked Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA)
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic Mechanical and Charlesby-Pinner Analyses of Radiation Cross-Linked Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA)
title_short Dynamic Mechanical and Charlesby-Pinner Analyses of Radiation Cross-Linked Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA)
title_sort dynamic mechanical and charlesby pinner analyses of radiation cross linked ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer eva
topic ethylene vinyl acetate
electron beam irradiation
cross-linking
crystallinity
frequency sweep
gel content
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1485
work_keys_str_mv AT annasvarcova dynamicmechanicalandcharlesbypinneranalysesofradiationcrosslinkedethylenevinylacetatecopolymereva
AT petrsvoboda dynamicmechanicalandcharlesbypinneranalysesofradiationcrosslinkedethylenevinylacetatecopolymereva