Radiation‐assisted controlled grafting and reaction parameter optimization of an industrially important polyolefin elastomer (POE)

Controlled (low degree) grafting of a polar group to a non‐polar polymer or reverse is an important means to change the polarity of the base polymer, maintaining the properties of the polymer. In the present study, a polar monomer, methacrylic acid (MAA), was grafted onto three different types of “Engages” (a special type of polyolefin elastomer) in aqueous medium by gamma radiation. Grafting parameters (total dose, MAA concentration, and Mohr's salt concentration) were optimized for the desired amount of low‐degree grafting (less than 15 wt%). The grafting yields were measured gravimetrically. Pure and grafted Engages were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, contact angle measurement, and scanning electron microscope. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy spectra confirmed the successful grafting of MAA onto the Engages. For all three, the best yields were found at 3‐kGy gamma radiation dose, 25‐vol% MAA, and 20‐mM Mohr's salt concentration. The grafting efficiencies follow a descending trend like Engage 8150 > Engage 7447 > Engage 8003. From contact angle measurement, it was seen that the hydrophilicities of all Engage surfaces were increased after grafting. Scanning electron microscope illustrated the best distribution of grafted MAA molecules to be on Engage 8150 surface followed by Engage 7447 and Engage 8003, respectively. The tensile testing results suggested that the mechanical properties of the base polymers remained almost unchanged after grafting. Thus, without detrimenting any basic properties, polyolefin elastomers can be grafted to achieve desired yield by an environmental‐friendly method, gamma radiation grafting, in aqueous media. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

辐射接枝医用水凝胶的研究Ⅰ.硅橡胶辐射接技N-乙烯基吡咯烷酮

采用填加SiO_2增强的甲基乙烯基硅橡胶混炼压片。通过~(60)Co-γ射线引发辐射硫化,利用共辐照方法,将N-乙烯基吡咯烷酮接枝到该硅橡胶上,制备了高纯度医用水凝胶。本文较系统地研究了接枝单体浓度、辐照剂量率、剂量、温度和接枝试片厚度等因素对接枝共聚反应的影响。建立了接枝速率与单体浓度、剂量率之间的动力学关系式:R_g=k[M]~(4/5)D~(1/2)。讨论了反应机制和接枝区域。     

Grafting polyelectrolytes onto polyacrylamide for flocculation 1. Polymer synthesis and characterization

Low-molecular-weight high-charge-density cationic diallyldimethylammonium chloride homopolymer (polyDADMAC) was grafted onto high-molecular-weight nonionic polyacrylamide (PAM) via a free radical mechanism using a gamma radiation technique. The graft copolymer systems were characterized in terms of viscosity, composition, gel content, degree of grafting and grafting efficiency. Degree of grafting was a strong function of radiation dose, dose rate and polyelectrolyte concentration. Gels were formed at high radiation doses and high PAM levels. Crosslinking between the electrolyte polymers was limited due to electrostatic repulsion. Gelation was mainly caused by coupling of PAM chains. High grafting efficiency was achieved: the lower the poly(DADMAC) concentration, the higher the grafting efficiency observed. The grafting mechanism and the effect of ion interactions on copolymer structural properties are also elucidated and discussed. Received: 6 April 1998 Accepted in revised form: 28 August 1998     

Gamma Radiation-Induced Graft Copolymerization of Styrene Onto Polyethyleneterephthalate Films: Application in Fuel Cell Technology as a Proton Exchange Membrane

Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) based proton exchange membrane for using in fuel cells was successfully prepared by gamma radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene monomer onto PET film and the consequent selective sulfonation of the grafting chain in the film state using chlorosulfonic acid (ClSO₃H). The effects of grafting conditions (e.g., monomer concentration, irradiation dose) on the degree of grafting and sulfonation condition (e.g., optimum concentration of ClSO₃H) on the degree of sulfonation were studied. The degree of grafting, the degree of sulfonation and the physico-chemical properties (such as, water uptake, mechanical strength, thermal durability, hydrolytic stability, oxidative stability) of the gamma radiation-induced grafted membrane were found to be better when compared to those of the UV-radiation grafted membrane. The membrane shows higher ion exchange capacity (0.9 mmol g^?1) and higher proton conductivity (0.075 S cm^?1), similar to those of Nafion membrane.     

Grafting polymerization of acrylic acid onto preirradiated polypropylene fabric

Acrylic acid (AAc) was grafted onto polypropylene (PP) fabric by a preirradiation method using a Co-60 gamma ray. The effect of absorbed dose, AAc concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time, storage time, as well as the effect of ferrous ion and sulfuric acid on the degree of grafting were determined. It has been shown that the synergistic effect of sulfuric acid with the ferrous sulfate can not only increase the grafting yield, but also decrease the apparent activation energy for the grafting. It leads to the possibility of getting a particular grafting yield at a lower absorbed dose. In this experiment, It has also been shown that the grafting activity of preirradiated PP fabric in AAc aqueous solution could be well kept at room temperature for a long period.     

Preirradiation grafting of acrylonitrile onto polypropylene monofilament for biomedical applications: I. Influence of synthesis conditions

Graft polymerization of acrylonitrile onto polypropylene (PP) monofilament was carried out by a preirradiation method using a ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation source. The influence of synthesis conditions, such as preirradiation dose, reaction time, monomer concentration, reaction temperature and additives was determined. The grafting was considerably influenced by the instantaneous swelling of the monofilament in the reaction mixture during the course of the grafting process. The order of dependence of the rate of grafting on monomer concentration was found to be 1.04. The nature of the medium of the grafting and the additives had profound influence over the grafting reaction. The accelerative effects of solvent medium on the grafting were higher in methylethyl ketone (MEK) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as compared to methanol. At the same time, partial replacement of DMF with water led to acceleration in the grafting with peak maxima at 20% solvent composition. The addition of a small amount of sulfuric acid to the reaction mixture also resulted in a significant acceleration of the degree of grafting.     

Radiation-induced grafting of styrene onto ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene powder and subsequent film fabrication for application as polymer electrolyte membranes: I. Influence of grafting conditions

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) powder was irradiated by gamma rays using a ⁶⁰Co source. Simultaneous and pre-irradiation grafting was performed in air and in inert atmosphere at room temperature. The monomer selected for grafting was styrene, since the styrene-grafted UHMWPE could be readily post-sulfonated to afford proton exchange membranes (PEMs). The effect of absorbed radiation dose and monomer concentration in methanol on the degree of grafting (DG) is discussed. It was found that the DG increases linearly with increase in the absorbed dose, grafting time and monomer concentration, reaching a maximum at a certain level. The order of rate dependence of grafting on monomer concentration was found to be 2.32. Furthermore, the apparent activation energy, calculated by plotting the Arrhenius curve, was 11.5 kJ/mole. Lower activation energy and high rate dependence on monomer concentration shows the facilitation of grafting onto powder substrate compared with film. The particle size of UHMWPE powder was measured before and after grafting and found to increase linearly with increase in level of grafting. FTIR-ATR analysis confirmed the styrene grafting. The grafted UHMWPE powder was then fabricated into film and post-sulfonated using chlorosulfonic acid for the purposes of evaluating the products as inexpensive PEM materials for fuel cells. The relationship of DG with degree of substitution (DS) of styrene per UHMWPE repeat unit and ion exchange capacity (IEC) is also presented.     

Grafting onto polypropylene. I. Effect of solvents in gamma radiation-induced graft copolymerization of poly(acrylonitrile)

Graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto isotactic polypropylene (PP) fiber has been studied by using gamma rays from a 2100 Ci ⁶⁰Co source as initiator by preirradiation technique. The preirradiated PP was treated with AN and the mixture was graft copolymerized by heating to 100°C for different time periods. The percentage of grafting is determined as a function of total dose, reaction time, and monomer concentration. The effect of different solvents such as H₂O, CH₃OH, and dioxane upon percentage of grafting has been studied. The maximum effect was observed in water and the minimum in CH₃OH. PP—g—PAN was characterized by IR spectroscopic and thermogravimetric methods. A plausible mechanism of gamma radiation induced grafting of AN onto PP in the absence and in the presence of solvents has been proposed. An attempt has been made to compare the relative abilities of different solvents to influence grafting.     

Radiation-induced grafting polymerization of MMA onto polybutadiene rubber latex

The grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto polybutadiene rubber latex by the direct radiation method was carried out. The effects of monomer concentration, absorbed dose and dose rate of gamma rays on the grafting yield were investigated. The graft copolymers were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. TEM photographs revealed that the core–shell structures of latex particles are formed at low MMA content, and with the increasing of MMA content, the semi-IPN-like structure with core–shell could be developed due to the high gel fraction of polybutadiene (PBD) seed particles. In addition, infrared analysis confirmed that MMA could be grafted onto PBD molecular chains effectively under appropriate irradiation conditions. The interfacial adhesion between PBD rubber (core) and PMMA (shell) phases could be enhanced with the increase of MMA concentration.     

Gamma radiation induced graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers onto poly(vinyl alcohol)

In an attempt to modify water-soluble synthetic polymers, graft Copolymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) and ethyl acrylate (EA) onto poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, has been studied by using gamma irradiation from a Co⁶⁰ source as initiator. The graft copolymerization was carried out in an aqueous medium by the mutual method in air. The effect of total dose and concentration of vinyl monomers on percentage of grafting has been determined. Water plays a significant role in the enhancement of graft copolymerization and the optimum amount of water to afford maximum grafting has been evaluated. The effect of CH₃OH on aqueous grafting of MMA and EA by radiation method has been studied. The graft copolymer has been characterized by IR spectroscopic and thermogravimetric methods.     

Stimuli-responsive membranes through peroxidation radiation-induced grafting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA) onto isotactic polypropylene film (IPP)

Stimuli-responsive membranes were prepared by peroxidation radiation-induced grafting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA) onto IPP. The radioactive isotope ⁶⁰Co was used as the source of gamma radiation. A plausible mechanism of grafting has been proposed. Using this method, the degree of grafting and morphology could be controlled through the variation of reaction parameters such as total dose, inhibitor concentration, monomer concentration, reaction time, reaction temperature and solvents. Maximum percentage of grafting (210?%) was obtained at total radiation dose of 20?kGy. The graft copolymerization reaction was carried out for 3?h with 20?v/v% of the monomer (2-HEMA) in methanol at 85?°C using 0.06?wt% of FeCl₃ as inhibitor. The chemical structures of grafted membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which indicates that HEMA has been grafted onto IPP. The atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to assess the morphological characterization of the membranes, revealing the roughness of the surface. These membranes were investigated for their swelling behavior. pH-sensitivity and the dyeability of the grafted and ungrafted membranes have also been studied.     

γ-Ray-induced grafting of DMAEMA and AAc onto PP by two step method

Binary graft copolymerization of thermosensitive 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and pH sensitive acrylic acid (AAc) monomers onto polypropylene (PP) films was carried out by a two step method using a ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation source. The PP film was initially modified by grafting of DMAEMA through a direct method. The DMAEMA-g-PP film obtained was then subjected to radiation grafting of AAc by the pre-irradiation method to give (DMAEMA-g-PP)-g-AAc. The optimal conditions, such as reaction time, reaction temperature, monomer concentration, and dose were studied. The grafted samples were verified by the FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and swelling; thermal properties were analyzed by DSC and TGA.     

Post-gamma-irradiation grafting of polypropylene. Part II. Butadiene: E.S.R. experiments

ESR spectra of gamma irradiated annealed and quenched forms of polypropylene film have been studied at the temperatures used for post-irradiation grafting experiments with butadiene, described in Part I. On warming from low temperature there is radical loss by termination and some radical transformation to radicals with optimum stability in annealed polypropylene at approximately 45°C. These radicals, which may be allyl type, are sited at the crystal faces, and decay more rapidly at higher temperatures in annealed polypropylene; in quenced polypropylene their concentration never exceeds one third the optimum observed in annealed polypropylene. Correlation with the grafting experiments suggests that allyl radicals are important for long-term grafting. Effects on the ESR spectrum of adding butadiene to the system show that in the long-term butadiene adds exclusively to the allyl radicals and that alkyl radicals still present at that stage are precursors to the allyl radicals. They do not react directly with butadiene presumably because they are sited in the inaccessible crystal core. Experiments at lower temperature show that butadiene does react with alkyl radicals in accessible regions.     

Radiation-induced crosslinking and grafting of two polyphosphazene elastomers

The radiation-induced crosslinking and grafting of two aryloxy-substituted elastomeric polyphosphazenes have been carried out by both gamma and electron beam irradiation. The classic Charlesby–Pinner [1] plus a simpler approach were used to determine the G(X) values for the crosslinked elastomeric polymers. The apparent G(X) value for the same polymer depended on whether the gamma-ray or the E-beam results were used. The presence of 8.5% repeat units with allylic groups in the side chain increased the G(X) value by an order of magnitude when the irradiation was performed under vacuum with the gamma source. The extent of acrylic acid grafting was also higher for the polymer containing the allylic group. Nearly all the grafted polyphosphazene films were insoluble in THF, a good solvent for the ungrafted samples.     

GRAFTING ONTO WOOL V.RADIATION-INITIATED GRAFTING OF ACRYLIC ACID ONTO WOOL FIBER

This paper deals with graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto Xinjiang fine wool.fiber in aqueous medium initiated by gamma rays. Graft copolymerization was carried out by themutual irradiation method in limited air. Percent grafting and percent efficiency have been deter-mined as a function of total dose, dose rate, concentration of monomer, wool weight and reactiontemperature. Graft copolymers are characterized with infrared (IR) spectroscopy, scanning elec-tron microscopy (SEM), and X--ray diffractometer. Properties of the grafts were studied, and compared with the virgin fiber.     

极性介质中醋酸乙烯酯的辐照引发分散聚合

用钴 60γ射线引发醋酸乙烯酯的分散聚合 ,通过选择各种极性溶剂体系 ,确立了醋酸乙烯酯在极性介质中稳定的分散聚合体系 .对异丙醇 水体系 ,聚合物分子量随剂量率的降低、稳定剂含量的增加、单体浓度的增大、反应温度的升高以及醇水比的降低而增加 .运用XPS、元素分析等表征聚合物粒子 ,及通过辐射接枝理论的分析 ,可以判断稳定剂所起的稳定作用主要是以物理吸附为主     

Modification of isotactic polypropylene film by radiation-induced graft copolymerization

In the present communication we report on the radiation induced grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto irradiated isotactic polypropylene film (IPP) by Peroxidation method to prepared grafted membrane (IPP-g-MMA). The radioactive isotope ⁶⁰Co was used as the source of gamma radiation. A plausible mechanism of grafting has been proposed. Optimum conditions pertaining to maximum percentage of grafting were evaluated as a function of different reaction parameters such as radiation dose, inhibitor concentration, monomer concentration, reaction time and reaction temperature respectively. Maximum percentage of grafting (85%) was obtained at [radiation dose] = 25 kGy, [inhibitor concentration] = 0.04 wt%, [MMA] = 6 wt%, [Reaction Temperature] = 60 °C in a [Reaction time] of 120 min. The evidence of grafted membrane was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Atomic force microscopy method, Scanning electron microscopy which indicates that MMA has been grafted onto IPP. Hydrolysis of the grafted membranes in 1 N NaOH transformed ester groups of the grafted membranes to carboxylic acid and hydroxyl groups to form hydrolyzed grafted membranes. Hydrolyzed grafted membranes were investigated for their swelling behavior. Swelling properties of the hydrolyzed grafted membranes were performed in different solvents such as water, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Maximum percentage swelling value of IPP-g-MMA was observed in pure DMSO, followed by DMF and water.     

The effect of concentration of acrylic acid,dose rates and temperature on preirradiated graft of natural rubber-based thermoplastic elastomer

Grafting acrylic acid (AAc) onto thermoplastic elastomer (TE) films, a kind of product from natural rubber latex block-grafted by methyl methacrylate monomer was investigated. The preirradiated dose from a gamma Co-60 source for TE at 75 kGy was considered to be useful. Significant concentration of AAc aqueous solution for the grafting process is 20% (vol%). Dose rate of about 3.4 kGy/h is more effective for the graft. The temperature of around 90°C is suitable for obtaining a higher degree of graft. It is observed that the rate of grafting of AAc onto TE is proportional to 0.48 power of dose rate and 1.9 power of AAc concentration. The rate of grafting can be expressed as R_g=k·I^0.48·M^1.9. On the other hand, overall activation energy of the graft is estimated about 7.2 Kcal/mol. The FTIR spectrum analysis of TE and TE-g-AAc films was proceeded.     

两步辐射接枝法制备抗熔滴涤纶织物

以涤纶(PET)为基材,利用两步γ辐射接枝法在PET织物表面依次引发甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(GMA)/二乙烯苯(DVB)和乙烯基磷酸二甲酯(DMVP)接枝共聚,制备了新型抗熔滴PET织物.接枝率随吸收剂量和单体浓度的增加而增加,随剂量率增加而下降.傅里叶红外(FTIR)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和热重分析(TGA)的分析结果表明在PET织物上成功引入目标接枝聚合物.相比PET织物,辐射改性PET织物的拉伸强度以及断裂伸长率均有所提高.通过引入交联网状结构以及促进成炭的含磷接枝聚合物,PET织物的抗熔滴特性得到了明显改善,燃烧过程中平均产生一滴熔滴的时间:PET为3.0 s/n,PET接枝PGMA/DVB后延长为17.0 s/n,而进一步接枝PDMVP后在整个燃烧过程中均不产生熔滴.这种新型的方法有望用于PET织物防护服抗熔滴性能的改善.     

Characterization of PE-g-HEMA films prepared by gamma irradiation through nuclear microprobe techniques

PE-g-HEMA films with different grafting yields prepared by mutual gamma irradiation method at a ⁶⁰Co source were characterized with ion beam analytical techniques using a nuclear microprobe. Qualitative analysis showed a random and heterogeneous distribution of contaminant elements, independent of the grafting degree, suggesting the existence of several sources of contamination at different stages of their preparation. Results also suggest that this “phased” contamination occurs simultaneously with mechanisms of agglomeration/entrapment of impurities during the gamma induced copolymerization reaction. Moreover, quantitative data showed that all contaminants found in the copolymeric films are natural contaminants of their reagents of preparation, although at concentrations without toxicological hazard, which points to a low cytotoxic potential.