Thermal properties of silane and peroxide crosslinked polyethylene, ethylene propylene rubber and their blends

The effect of silane and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) induced crosslinking, as well as the effect of annealing on the thermal properties and structural parameters of polyethylene (PE) and its blends with ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) have been studied by DSC and X-ray diffraction analysis. The reduction in the melting point, melting endotherm and percent crystallinity is greater in the case of DCP crosslinking and is also dependent on the degree of crosslinking. For all compositions the percent crystallinity increases and the interplanar distance (d and R values) decreases on annealing. Crystallization and fusion behaviour of crosslinked polyethylenes are markedly dependent on the sol (extractable) content and the effective network density of the gel