(Tmax) located at 484 C. The relatively higher thermal stability
exhibited by the radiation/coagent and peroxide systems is due
to the formation of CAC linkages which are more thermally stable
than CASAC and CASxAC linkages in sulfur vulcanization [26]. Furthermore,
the CAC linkage in both cured systems possesses a higher
bond energy of 85 k cal mol1 whereas the bond energy of the
SAS crosslink is only 57 k cal mol1 [27].