Accelerated degradability of polypropylene by blended rubber

Abstract To accelerate degradability during electron beam (EB) irradiation and during Xe exposure after EB irradiation of polymer materials, various rubbers were added to polypropylene (PP). Among the rubbers tested, butyl rubber (BR) and polyisoprene (PIS) kneaded with PP had higher compatibility as evaluated by the haze value. A small amount of rubber (1–3 wt%) induced a significant reduction of elongation and molecular weight during EB irradiation and during Xe exposure after EB irradiation of PP. The rubber was highly oxidized, leading to greater degradation of the PP. Accordingly, it was concluded that the addition of a small amount of rubber is effective in enhancing of the radiation degradability of PP. This technology might be useful for the modification of polymer materials to promote their easy decomposition in the natural environment.