Changes in sol fraction during peroxide crosslinking of linear low-density polyethylenes with homogeneous distribution of short chain branching

FTIR measurements of sol fractions were carried out in order to assess side reactions during dicumyl peroxide (DCP) crosslinking of linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPEs) with homogeneous distribution of short chain branching. The changes of methyl and olefinic unsaturation concentration were measured as a function of degree of branching and DCP content. The changes of methyl and vinylidene concentration indicate that the scission probability has greater significance for the samples with initial branch content above 31 CH₃/1000 C and increases with increasing DCP concentration. The analysis of trans-vinylene concentration indicates that the probability of disproportionation also increases with increasing DCP content. The changes of methyl concentration in the sol fraction of the sample containing initially ca. 23 CH₃/1000 C with increasing DCP content could be interpreted using the dependence of crosslinking efficiency on branch content found previously for some range of branch concentration. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.