The Effect of Electron Beam Radiation on Mechanical Stability of Polybutylene Succinate Polymer

This paper examines the effect of electron beam (EB) radiation on mechanical stability of polybutylene succinate (PBS) blends with three types of cross linking agent has been studied using tensile, flexural, impact, gel content, melt flow index (MFI) and heat deflection temperature (HDT). PBS was radiated using a 3.0MeV electron beam machine with doses ranging from 0 to 120 kGy/ 10 kGy per pass. The results show that 20 kGy depict the most stable mechanical properties. Higher radiation figures higher crosslink density but depicts reduction in most of mechanical properties. Blends with crosslinker such as Triallyl Isocyanurate (TAIC), Hexanediol Diacrylate (HDDA) and Tripropyleneglycol Diacrylate (TPGDA) influences the radiated PBS properties. PBS/HDDA blends with 20 kGy dose shows the highest in mechanical stability of this type of biodegradable resin. The surface morphology study and mechanical values have been used to correlate change in the structure of PBS upon degration.