Radiation-induced grafting of styrene vapor to polyethylene

The radiation-induced grafting of styrene vapor to low-density polyethylene film of 0.063 mm thickness was studied at 23°C at a dose rate of 1.98 × 10⁴ rad/hr. The concentration C of monomer in the film was measured as a function of pre-irradiation exposure time to monomer vapor. The concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient of styrene in polyethylene was calculated to be 4.9 × 10^?9 exp {2.0C/C₀} cm²/sec, where C₀ is the saturation concentration of styrene in the film, and a linear boundary diffusion coefficient for styrene vapor into polyethylene film was found to be 2.0 × 10^?7 cm/sec. The rate of grafting was determined as a function of the concentration of styrene absorbed in the film. The maximum graft yield was obtained with an initial styrene concentration in the film of 4 wt-%. Under conditions of low initial monomer concentration, the grafting rate increases with irradiation time. The results are compared with previously published data on grafting of polyethylene from methanol–styrene solutions. They are explained in terms of the viscosity of the amorphous region as a function of styrene content and the resistance to the diffusion of monomer at the film–vapor interface.     

Kinetics of radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene with ethyl acrylate

The radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene with ethyl acrylate onto preirradiated polyethylene powder was carried out at 20°C. The grafting yield decreased in the following order: ethyl acrylate ? styrene > styrene–ethyl acrylate mixture. On the other hand, the amount of absorption of liquid monomers in polyethylene powder decreased as follows: styrene > styrene–ethyl acrylate mixture > ethyl acrylate. By kinetic analysis of the grafting yield and amount of absorption of monomers it was elucidated that the value K_p/K_t in an ethyl acrylate system (7.7 × 10^?2) was much larger than those in styrene–ethyl acrylate systems and in a styrene system (ca. 1.0 × 10^?2).     

Solvent Effects on the Rate of Radiation-Induced Grafting of Vinyl Monomers on Polymeric Films

Earlier work indicated that in the radiation-induced grafting of vinyl monomers on polymeric films, the plasticity of the film being grafted is determined by the Hildebrand solubility parameter of the grafting solution. Film plasticity affects the termination step of the grafting reaction, and thus strongly influences the overall rate of monomer grafting on the polymeric film.

In the grafting of styrene on nylon film, a sequence of irradiation runs was made at selected volume ratios of styrene/benzene/methanol, all grafting solutions having a constant solubility parameter value of 9.5 Under these conditions, a linear plot of grafting rate vs volume percent styrene in the grafting solution was obtained. A similar sequence of runs grafting pentafluorostyrene on nylon film at constant solubility parameter also produced a linear plot of grafting rate vs volume percent PFS.

Styrene was grafted on polyethylene film in a sequence of four runs using styrene dissolved in methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, each solution having the same solubility parameter of 10.4. A straight-line plot of grafting rate vs volume percent styrene was obtained under these conditions.     

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.     

Reaction Kinetics of the Radiation-Induced Grafting of Styrene on Polyethylene Film

Based on rate data obtained previously, an analysis has been made of the reaction kinetics of the radiation-induced grafting of styrene on polyethylene film by using various concentrations of methanol in the styrene. A new feature of the work involves the use of internal film concentrations of styrene and methanol computed from the Flory theory of polymer /solvent interaction, which possibly improves the accuracy of calculations of termination rate constant k_t at various methanol concentrations. A graphical plot of k_t dependence on internal film viscosity is computed from an equation of Smoluchowski. Techniques are defined which may lead to improved accuracy in the computation of rate constants.     

Effect of solvent on radiation grafting and crosslinking of polyethylene

Crosslinking of polyethylene influences its swelling properties. It could be expected that pre-crosslinking of polyethylene influences the rate and yield of grafting as well. This is demonstrated by pre-crosslinking of polyethylene and by its subsequent grafting with styrene after the trapped radicals had been annealed out.In order to obtain more direct information about the influence of swelling agent on polyethylene crosslinking, the elastic modulus of the crosslinked polyethylene was investigated. Stress–strain curves of polyethylene samples irradiated in different environments were recorded in molten state at 165 °C. The results show that irradiation of swollen polyethylene produces fewer effective crosslinks than does irradiation of dry polymer.     

Changes in row structure of extruded polyethylene film in grafting with styrene. II. Copolymer morphology

The morphology of extruded high-density polyethylene film grafted with styrene was studied by transmission electron microscopy of thin stained sections. Near the film surface grafted polystyrene was confined to amorphous layers between lamellar crystals of polyethylene. In the film interior separate polystyrene domains were also formed and became predominant in grafting in diluted styrene. The deciding factor for the location of grafted polystyrene is the chain length because only long chains can coalesce in large separate zones. The polystyrene zones expand by cracking the stacks of lamellae along the lamellar normals. Straightening of the twisted crystalline lamellae of polyethylene occurred in grafting. “Bubbles” of styrene homopolymer were formed under conditions of high monomer concentration. The effect of staining the graft by the Kanig method² was also discussed.     

Polymer/Solvent Interaction in the Radiation-Induced Grafting of Vinyl Monomers on Polymeric Films

More evidence has been obtained concerning rate effects in the radiation-induced grafting of vinyl monomers on polymeric films resulting from plasticization of the film by the grafting solution, the plasticizing efficiency of the solution being indicated by its Hildebrand solubility parameter. Two types of solvent acceleration mechanisms are defined and illustrated by the styrene/nylon and styrene/polyethylene systems in terms of grafting rate measurements for selected grafting solution compositions. The grafting mechanisms are elucidated by the construction of three-component phase diagrams for the polymer/solvent (1)/solvent (2) grafting systems using equations based on the Flory-Huggins theory of polymer/solvent interaction.     

Kinetic approach to radiation-induced grafting in the polyethylene-styrene system. V. The behavior of initiator radicals

With high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films the grafting reactions were performed by the preirradiation method. By holding the total absorption dose constant irradiation time was varied. The initial rate of grafting decreased with irradiation time. The relative concentration of alkyl radical in the polyethylene film also decreased with irradiation time, but the relative concentration of allyl increased. The differences in the ESR spectrum before and after the introduction of styrene indicate that the allyl-type radical reacted with styrene. To elucidate these results the allyl radical in the amorphous region was considered.     

Cation exchange membranes by pre-irradiation grafting of styrene into FEP films. I. Influence of synthesis conditions

Gamma radiation-induced grafting of styrene into FEP films was investigated by the pre-irradiation method. The degree of grafting was found to be strongly dependent on the synthesis conditions, such as radiation dose, monomer concentration, crosslinker, temperature, and film thickness. The order of dependence of the rate of grafting on pre-irradiation dose and monomer concentration was found to be 0.64 and 1.90, respectively. The activation energy for the grafting in the temperature range of 50–80°C was determined to be 27.9 kJ/mol. A negative first order dependence of grafting on film thickness was observed. The results suggest that the initial grafting takes place at the film surface and proceeds to the middle by progressive diffusion of monomer through the polystyrene grafted layers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Improved Graft Copolymerization of Some Modified Cellulose Polymers with Vinyl Monomers Using Dibenzoyl Peroxide (DBPO) as Initiator

An improved efficient method for grafting of mercerized cellulose with acrylonitrile, acylamide, 4-vinylpyridine and styrene monomers using dibenzoyl peroxide (DBPO) as an initiator was studied. The results show that the order of the reactivity of the monomers is styrene > 4- vinyl pyridine > acrylonitrile >acrylamide. Under optimal conditions, the extent of graft copolymerization of styrene onto cellulose has shown a substantial increasing trend. The percentages of grafting yield (G.Y.%), grafting efficiency (G.E.%), IR spectra, and X-ray diffraction were measured. The I t was shown that X-ray diffraction spectra of grafted cellulose increases one more peak than that of pure cellulose with a noticeable decrease in crystallinity.     

Light absorbing species in polyolefins: A fluorescence/derivative UV spectroscopy study

Further novel observations are reported on the nature of the hexane extractable fluorescent species in four polyolefins, namely low and high density polyethylene, polypropylene and poly (4-methylpent-1-ene). The concentration of fluorescent species extracted follows the order poly(4-methylpent-1-ene) > polypropylene > low density polyethylene ≡ high density polyethylene which follows closely the known photo-oxidation rates of the polymers. The total fluorescence spectrum is shown to be a complex mixture of several components and this is supported by second order derivative ultraviolet spectroscopy. Comparison of corrected fluorescence excitation spectra of the polymers with that of naphthalene shows several anomalies which suggest that the latter is not the major fluorescent species.     

Effect of swelling on radiation-induced grafting of styrene to polyethylene

The radiation-induced grafting of low-density polyethylene in contact with styrene solution was studied. The effect of the degree of swelling of the polymer on the rate of grafting was investigated by diluting the styrene with methanol and with n-octane. For styrene-methanol solution, the rate of grafting was found to increase with degree of swelling, passing through a maximum when the sorbed solvent reaches 6.2 wt-% (70 vol-% methanol in the outside solution) and decreasing therafter. The methanol fraction of the sorbed liquid is far too small to cause precipitation of the grafted chains and inhibition of their termination rate. The dilution of styrene by octane has no effect on the swelling of polyethylene, but it decreases the grafting rate over the entire concentration range. The results are explained in terms of the concentration of sorbed monomer and the viscosity of the amorphous region of the polyethylene swollen by nonpolar liquids. Supporting evidence for the mechanism is presented in the form of grafting kinetic data as a function of dose rate (2.8 × 10²?9.5 × 10⁴ rad/hr), and post-irradiation grafting measurements for polyethylene in methanol-styrene (70/30, v/v). The data indicate that at the maximum grafting rate an optimum is achieved between a high concentration of sorbed monomer and a low viscosity for the poorly swelled polymer matrix.     

Changes in row structure of extruded polyethylene film on grafting with styrene. I. Distribution of polystyrene and crystalline reorientation

Extruded films of linear polyethylene were grafted with styrene in a 1:2 styrene---methanol solution and pure styrene. The reaction was induced by simultaneous γ irradiation. Crystallinity of polyethylene was hardly affected by a polystyrene-to-polyethylene ratio as high as 13.5. From the anisotropy of film growth and small-angle x-ray diffraction it was concluded that polystyrene incorporated both into intercrystalline layers and newly formed domains alongside the stacks of lamellae. The proportion of polystyrene in interlamellar layers depends on the length of grafted chains; that is, on grafting conditions. A higher than expected proportion of occluded homopolystyrene was found in films grafted in methanol solution. The glass transition temperature of polystyrene decreased with grafting yield. Grafting in methanol solution produced changes in the x-ray orientation pattern of polyethylene. This was ascribed to untwisting and straightening crystalline lamellae in the row nucleated cylindrites.     

Solvent effects on the radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene onto poly(isobutylene oxide)

The graft polymerization of styrene onto preirradiated poly(isobutylene oxide) (PIBO) with methanol and benzene was studied. The order of grafting yield and of the number-average molecular weight of graft chains decrease in the order; undiluted styrene > styrene–methanol (1:1) solution > styrene–benzene (1:1) solution. A kinetic treatment to calculate rate constants from the rate of grafting and the molecular weight of the graft chain was proposed. The propagation rate constant k_p was 0.2–0.3 l./mole-sec and the termination rate constant k_t was 1.0–16.0 l./mole-sec. The ratio k_p/k_t in this heterogeneous system was larger than that in homogeneous system by a factor of about 10⁴–10⁵.     

Kinetic approach to radiation–induced grafting in the polyethylene–styrene system

To investigate the mechanism of radiation-induced grafting in this system, the increase of monomer concentration in the polyethylene film in styrene vapor was evaluated by measuring the weight increase and formulated to be V([M_∞] ? [M]). The decay of radical concentration was also measured by ESR and the rate constant of the decay was determined. The alkyl type radical was affected only a little by styrene, while the allyl type radical was much affected by styrene. A new computer investigation method was proposed to clarify the reaction mechanism. The data obtained were substituted into differential equations and used to calculate the pattern of increase of the degree of grafting for the preirradiation method with reaction in the vapor phase. Results of these calculations suggest that only allyl type radicals induce grafting reactions and that the grafting reaction seldom occurs in the region of grafted polystyrene.     

Kinetics of radiation-induced grafting reactions. I. Polyethylene–styrene systems

By means of bromine labeling and ESR, the grafting reactions of styrene onto preirradiated polyethylene have been investigated. Not all the radicals produced by irradiations participate in grafting reactions all together, but they are rendered active bit by bit by the swelling of crystalline parts of polyethylene. The growing rates for polystyryl graft chains at 20°C decrease from 4 monomer units/active site/sec to one-fourth the initial value after 100 min. On the contrary, the average lifetimes increase from <10³ sec to >2.6 × 10³ sec. The number-average molecular weight of graft chains also increases with reaction times and rises to 3.5 × 10⁵ after 90 min at 20°C.     

ESR studies of the radiation-induced multiple graft polymerization

The radiation-induced multiple-graft polymerization was studied by an ESR method. When methyl methacrylate vapor was introduced onto preirradiated polyethylene already grafted with styrene, the second step of grafting of methyl methacrylate occurred mainly in the polyethylene portion. The kinetic treatment proved that the termination rate constant k_t of methyl methacrylate decreased with the amount of styrene grafted in advance. On the other hand, when styrene vapor was introduced onto polyethylene grafted with methyl methacrylate, only radicals of poly(methyl methacrylate) decreased. In this case, the second step of grafting of styrene occurred in the poly-(methyl methacrylate) portion which covered the whole surface of the polyethylene powder. When monomer vapors were alternately introduced onto preirradiated polyethylene powder, the second step of grafting occurred at the growing chain end of the first monomer.     

Diffusion-controlled reaction. VI. Radiation graft polymerization of styrene to polyethylene

The radiation graft polymerization of styrene to polyethylene was studied under diffusion-controlled conditions of radiation intensity I, monomer concentration M₁, and polymer sample thickness L. The results of the present study together with previous work under diffusion-free conditions verify our theoretical model for the diffusion-controlled reaction. The grafting rate is inverse first order in L for diffusion-controlled reaction and independent of L for diffusion-free reaction. The order of dependence of grafting rate on radiation intensity for diffusion-controlled reaction is one-half that for diffusion-free reaction. Diffusion control leads to a decrease in the order of dependence of grafting rate on monomer concentration. The decrease is greater than theoretically predicted; possible reasons for this effect are described.     

Radiation-induced grafting in the polyethylene–styrene system and differential thermal analysis of the grafted samples

The graft polymerization of styrene onto high-density polyethylene films was carried out by γ-irradiation in the vapor phase. Two methods were used for grafting in these experiments: a preirradiation method and a simultaneous irradiation method. The effects of these grafting methods on the reaction mechanism of grafting and on the properties of the grafted samples were investigated. The amounts of styrene homopolymer in the grafted samples is under 2% in the case of the preirradiation method and above 10% in the case of the simultaneous irradiation method. The activation energies were calculated to be 18 kcal/mole for grafting in the preirradiation method and 15 kcal/mole for weight increase of polyethylene films in styrene vapor. The difference in the dimensional expansion between in the direction of stretching and the direction prependicular to it is smaller with preirradiation grafting than with grafting by the simultaneous irradiation method. Differential thermal analysis of the grafted films shows an endothermic peak due thermal decomposition which decreases gradually from 450°C to 415°C with increase in degree of grafting from 30 to 60%. The lowering of this peak temperature appears at a lower degree of grafting when the preirradiation method is used. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that the reaction rate of radiation-induced grafting in the vapor phase depends closely upon the processes of adsorption, dissolution, and diffusion of styrene monomer in polyethylene films; in the case of simultaneous irradiation method, the reaction proceeds comparatively uniformly in the amorphous region, while in the case of the preirradiation method, the reaction proceeds mainly at the boundary of the crystalline and amorphous regions.