Abstract: | In this study, a series of self‐crosslinked acrylic rubbers were prepared by gamma ray initiated emulsion copolymerization. Acrylic acid and N‐hydroxymethl acrylamide were used as the cure‐site monomers. The vulcanizing properties, tensile properties, and dynamic mechanical analysis of the self‐crosslinked acrylic rubbers were investigated. It was found that the curing characteristics could be influenced significantly by the content and species of the cure‐site monomers. Improvement in mechanical properties like tensile strength, modulus and elongation at break was observed in the prepared self‐crosslinked rubber. The structure‐property correlation of the self‐crosslinked acrylic rubber was discussed. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:1748–1753, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers. |