Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(ε‐caprolactone) crosslinked with γ radiation in the presence of triallyl isocyanurate

Abstract

Abstract Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) was crosslinked by γ radiation in the presence of triallyl isocyanurate. The influence of γ‐radiation crosslinking on the thermal and mechanical properties of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)/triallyl isocyanurate was investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses showed differences between the first and second scans. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed an increase in the glass‐transition temperature as a result of the radiation crosslinking of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone). Thermogravimetric analysis showed that γ‐radiation crosslinking slightly improved the thermal stability of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone). The γ radiation also strongly influenced the mechanical properties. At room temperature, crosslinking by radiation did not have a significant influence on the Young's modulus and yield stress of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone). However, the tensile strength at break and the elongation at break generally decreased with an increase in the crosslinking level. When the temperature was increased above the melting point, the tensile strength at break, elongation at break, and Young's modulus of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) were also reduced with an increase in the crosslinking level. The yield stress disappeared as a result of the disappearance of the crystallites. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2676–2681, 2007