Joint Reuse of Post-consumer Polyolefines and Ground Tire Rubber for Thermoplastic Elastomers Production. Mechanical Performance, Thermal and Radiation Stability
The effect of the irradiation (-rays or electron beam) on structure-property relationships for the high performance thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) obtained as a result of dynamic vulcanization of the blends of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ethylene/propylene/diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, and ground tire rubber (GTR, pre-treated with Bitumen), has been investigated. Bitumen was used as a multifunctional agent providing partial devulcanization of GTR (during GTR pre-treatment) as plasticiser and to improve adhesion between the GTR particles and surrounding thermoplastic matrix.