Peroxide-containing compatibilizer for polypropylene blends with other polymers

An approach to synthesize interfacial active peroxide graft copolymers, so called precompatibilizers, which are suitable for the universal compatibilization of one special polymer with a number of other polymers, has been presented. As example, this approach is illustrated by the reactive fusion of a random peroxide copolymer (VO) with polypropylene (PP) resulting in a VOgPP precompatibilizer. A mathematical model of the process of the VOgPP synthesis and the conduction of a full-factorial experiment have allowed both the optimization of the synthesis conditions and the prediction of its proceeding. During blending PP with other polymers VOgPP localizes across the blend interphases and initiates radical processes leading to the in situ formation of final compatibilizer macromolecules, which are efficient just for the blends where they are formed. The universality of the precompatibilizer concept is demonstrated in PP blends of the thermoplastic/thermoplastic type (with polystyrene and polyethylene) and of the thermoplastic/thermoset type (with unsaturated polyester resin).     

Polypropylene surface peroxidation with heterofunctional polyperoxides

Method of polyolefin surface activation via covalent grafting of polyperoxide nanolayer by free radical mechanism has been presented. The features of such the nanolayer formation under the thermoprocessing conditions, i.e.: formation of 3D crosslinked network in polyperoxide bulk; and its grafting with complete coating of polyolefin surface, -- is considered. The method provides an availability of uniformly placed peroxide groups of one type over the polyolefin surface activated, which may further be utilized for the tailored modification of polymer surfaces using the “grafting to” and “grafting from” techniques in that time when it is necessary.