The effect of radiation on the properties of silicone rubber

As a result of -radiation, silicone rubber undergoes a series of changes due to radiation cross-linking. The modulus of elasticity increases linearily with a dose up to 150–200 megarads. The vitrification temperature (– 120 to- 125 ° C) hardly changes up to 100 megarads and at 270 megarads it is –110 to –115 ° C. With cross-linking, the rate of crystallization and degree of crystallinity decrease. The melting point falls from – 35 ° C for the initial material to – 55 ° C for rubber Irradiated with a dose of 40 megarads. A dose of 100 megarads practically completely eliminates crystallization. This dose produces rigid rubbers with a modulus of 200– 250 kg/cm² and a high degree of frost resistance, (Tg –125 ° C), but with a very small breaking stretch (15–20%) with a strength of 30–40 kg/cm².