Living radical graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate to polyethylene film with typical and reverse atom transfer radical polymerization

Nickel‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and iron‐mediated reverse ATRP were applied to the living radical graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate onto solid high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) films modified with 2,2,2‐tribromoethanol and benzophenone, respectively. The number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the free poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) produced simultaneously during grafting grew with the monomer conversion. The weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight ratio (M_w/M_n) was small (<1.4), indicating a controlled polymerization. The grafting ratio showed a linear relation with M_n of the free PMMA for both reaction systems. With the same characteristics assumed for both free and graft PMMA, the grafting was controlled, and the increase in grafting ratio was ascribed to the growing chain length of the graft PMMA. In fact, M_n and M_w/M_n of the grafted PMMA chains cleaved from the polyethylene substrate were only slightly larger than those of the free PMMA chains, and this was confirmed in the system of nickel‐mediated ATRP. An appropriate period of UV preirradiation controlled the amount of initiation groups introduced to the HDPE film modified with benzophenone. The grafting ratio increased linearly with the preirradiation time. The graft polymerizations for both reaction systems proceeded in a controlled fashion. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3350–3359, 2002     

Controlled grafting of MMA onto cellulose and cellulose acetate

Homogeneous graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto cellulose and cellulose acetate was carried out in various solvents and solvent systems taking ceric ammonium nitrate, tin (II) 2-ethyl hexanoate [Sn(Oct)₂] and benzoyl peroxide as initiators. The effect of solvents, initiators, initiator and monomer concentration, on graft yield, grafting efficiency and total conversion of monomer to polymer were studied. Formation of Ce³⁺ ion during grafting in presence of CAN enhances the grafting efficiency. Methylene blue was used as a homopolymer inhibitor and controlled the molecular weight of the grafted polymer and its effect on grafting was also studied. In presence of MB, amount of PMMA homopolymer formation reduced and consequently grafting efficiency increased. The number average molecular weights and polydispersity indices of the grafted PMMA were found out by gel permeation chromatography. The products were characterized by FTIR and ¹H-NMR analyses and possible reaction mechanisms were deduced. Finally, thermal degradation of the grafted products was also studied by thermo-gravimetric and differential thermo-gravimetric analyses.     

Reaction of chlorine-containing polymers with living polymers

A graft polymer was prepared by means of the coupling reaction of chlorinated ethylene–propylene terpolymer with living polystyrene, obtained with a sodium–naphthalene complex as initiator, under various conditions; the grafting efficiency and the percentage of grafting are discussed. Poly(chloroprene), chlorinated butyl rubber, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(epichlorohydrin), and epichlorohydrin–ethylene oxide copolymer were also used as chlorine-containing polymers. The grafting efficiencies were found to be in the following order: chlorinated butyl rubber > poly(epichlorohydrin) > epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide copolymer > chlorinated ethylene-propylene terpolymer > poly(chloroprene) > poly(vinyl chloride). A graft polymer was obtained from the reaction between chlorinated ethylene–propylene terpolymer and living poly(isoprene), with butyllithium in benzene. The undesirable metal–halogen interchange reaction was considerable.     

Grafting of methyl methacrylate onto natural rubber in supercritical carbon dioxide

The grafting of the methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer onto natural rubber (NR) was carried out by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) swelling polymerization with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator. Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) was used to confirm the formation of graft copolymers with the characteristic bands of symmetric C?O and C? O? C stretching vibrations at 1728 cm^?1 and 1147 cm^?1, respectively. The effects of the rubber‐to‐monomer ratio, amount of initiator, reaction time, and pressure on the monomer grafting level (GL) and grafting efficiency (GE) were investigated, and the optimum conditions for the preparation of NR‐g‐MMA were found to be 70:30 of the rubber‐to‐monomer ratio, 1.2% of the initiator content, and the reaction pressure of 23 MPa for 6 h. The thermal behavior of the NR and the different NR/MMA molar ratio grafted copolymer samples was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The observed glass transition temperature (T_g) was consistent with the GL. The tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, elongation at break, hardness, and oil resistance of graft copolymers were determined and compared with the values of NR and that of polymerization products prepared in traditional toluene solution. The results showed that the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, hardness and oil resistance were greatly improved after modification in scCO₂. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water-soluble copolymers. III. Dextran-g-poly(acrylamides) control of grafting sites and molecular weight by Ce(IV)-induced initiation in homogeneous solutions

Model graft copolymers were synthesized by grafting acrylamide onto dextran (M_w = 500,000) utilizing an initiation method in which a Ce(IV)/HNO₃ solution was added to the dextran solution in order to allow coplexation prior to monomer addition. Three synthetic reaction parameters were optimized on the basis of conversion and solution viscosity: monomer concentration, dextran concentration, and nitric acid concentration. Molar ratios of [Ce(IV)]/[dextran] were changed systematically to affect the number and length of the acrylamide grafts. The number of grafting sites and graft chain lengths, determined by selective hydrolysis of the carbohydrate backbone, were in good agreement with those theortically predicted from knowledge of initiation efficiency and monomer conversion. Rheological studies of the model graft copolymers were conducted in aqueous solutions as a function of temperature, added salt, and copolymer concentration.     

Graft Copolymerization of Benzyl Methacrylate onto Poly(Acryloyl-L-valine) Microspheres by Using the Photoreaction of Side Carboxyl Groups with Lead Tetraacetate

N-Acryloyl-L-valine (ALV) was found to yield polymer microspheres when it was polymerized with a radical initiator in acetophenone. The resulting microspheres showed thermochromism in aromatic solvents such as benzonitrile, methyl benzoate, and acetophenone. Graft copolymerization of benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) onto poly(ALV) microspheres was carried out in benzonitrile by using the photoreaction of carboxyl groups in poly (ALV) with Pb(OAc)₄. The grafting efficiency was not very high (15–28%). Methyl methacrylate as the second monomer gave a higher grafting efficiency (56%) although the polymer yield was considerably lower. The resulting graft copolymer was characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. The grafted poly (ALV) microspheres were well dispersed in benzene. A benzene solution of grafted poly(ALV) microspheres and homopoly(BzMA) gave a film with finely dispersed poly (ALV) microspheres.     

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.     

Free-radical grafting of monomers to polydienes. I. Effect of reaction conditions on grafting of styrene to polybutadiene

The radical-induced grafting of styrene onto polybutadiene (PBD) in benzene solution at 60°C has been studied. Provided the PBD concentration is kept below about 1.0 monomermole/l. the polymerization of styrene shows normal kinetic behavior. The proportion of polystyrene incorporated as graft is independent of the initiator (benzoyl peroxide) concentration but increases as the ratio of PBD to styrene in the reaction medium increases. Azobisisobutyronitrile produces no graft copolymer in this system. It appears that the reaction leading to graft formation is direct attack of initiator radicals on the rubber, probably by a hydrogen-abstraction reaction.     

Graft polymers from poly(vinyl chloride) and chlorinated rubber

Graft polymers from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and chlorinated rubber (CIR) with side chains of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), or poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) were synthesized. For this purpose, a vinyl monomer was polymerized in the presence of small quantities of PVC or CIR with benzoyl peroxide as catalyst. The graft polymers were separated from both homopolymers by precipitation with methanol from methyl ethyl ketone solutions of the reaction products and the grafting efficiency was calculated. The graft polymers were characterized by infrared spectra, elemental analysis, NMR, and osmometric or light-scattering determinations. From the results it is concluded that the PVC or CIR molecules contain side chains of PMMA, PMA, or PEMA. The graft polymers showed higher molecular weights, and the values of second virial coefficient for these polymers were much different from those of the starting polymers.     

Free radical grafting of monomers to polydienes. IV. Kinetics and mechanism of methyl methacrylate grafting to polybutadiene

The radical grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto polybutadiene (PBD) in benzene solution at 60°C is more efficiently induced by benzoyl peroxide (BP) than by azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN). PBD exerts a pronounced retardation on the polymerization of MMA and the grafting efficiency is governed by the ratio of rubber to monomer in the system. With BP as initiator, a fairly simple kinetic expression, relating grafting efficiency with reactant concentrations, can be derived by making certain approximations, including the neglect of termination grafting. The experimental data are reasonably consistent with this equation and yield acceptable values of several kinetic parameters. With AIBN, termination grafting is more significant. In consequence the relevant kinetic equation can be only qualitatively validated.     

Grafting behavior of copolymers of styrene and ortho-vinylbenzaldehyde

Statistical copolymers of styrene and ortho-vinylbenzaldehyde (o-VBA) have been prepared by free radical solution polymerization using azodiisobutyronitrile initiator. Subsequent “grafting from” reactions could be induced through photolytic excitation of the pendant aldehyde carbonyl functionality in the presence of methyl methacrylate monomer; however, actual grafting of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) to the copolymer backbone was shown to be quite low (< 6% graft-on). Another more promising route involved abstraction of labile benzylic hydrogens of the copolymer by chemical methods [e.g., dibenzoyl peroxide or α,α′-di-(t-butylperoxy)diisopropylbenzene] to produce potential graft sites. Graft copolymers prepared by this procedure had PMMA content ranging up to about 30% (by weight), depending upon polymerization conditions. Higher grafting levels were generally observed with increasing reaction temperature and prolonged reaction times. While some grafting evidently originated from the copolymer backbone, the presence of the o-VBA moiety significantly enhanced the ultimate percent grafting. The resulting multicomponent polymer systems displayed substantial miscibility as evidenced by the transparency of their cast films as well as by their glass transition behavior.     

Greffage radiochimique de l'acrylonitrile sur le poly(methacrylate de methyle)

The radiation-induced polymerization of acrylonitrile with dissolved PMMA exhibits kinetics similar to those found with the pure monomer. The addition of PMMA to the monomer at first leads to an increase in polymerization rate; a maximum in rate is observed for 60 per cent acrylonitrile in the mixture. The unreacted PMMA was quantitatively extracted by toluene from the reaction mixture. In contrast, polyacrylonitrile could not be separated from the graft copolymer by fractional precipitation, presumably due to association of the graft copolymer with the precipitated homopolymer. The free radical yield of PMMA “G_R effective” derived from these results was found to be 8 to 10 in mixtures containing small amounts of monomer. It rapidly decreased as the monomer concentration increased.The solubilities of the graft copolymers were characterized by the precipitation γ determined for several precipitants in DMF solutions. A maximum in solubility was found for copolymers containing 25 to 35 per cent acrylonitrile in DMF-alcohol mixtures. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the graft copolymers were measured using a penetrometer. T_g increased with the MMA content in the copolymer. A small minimum of T_g appeared to exist for copolymers containing 90 per cent acrylonitrile.     

Preirradiation grafting of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) films

Preirradiation grafting of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) films was investigated. The influence of grafting parameters such as preirradiation dose, monomer concentration, and grafting temperature on the rate and grafting yield was studied. Different solvents were used for diluting the monomer and it was found that the aqueous monomer solution at a concentration of 80 wt% was suitable for this grafting system. However, the graft polymerization of NVP in benzene terminated within a short time without significant grafting yield. The dependence of the grafting rate on preirradiation dose and monomer concentration was 1.2 and 1.07 order, respectively, for grafting onto PTFE films and 1.1 and 1.2 order, respectively, for grafting onto FEP films. Arrhenius plots for grafting onto PTFE films showed a breaking point at ca. 35°C and the overall activation energies were calculated as 23.6 and 9.0 Kcal/mol below and above 35°C, respectively. For grafting onto FEP films, however, no break was observed in the Arrhenius plots; the overall activation energy was 11.9 Kcal/mol. The swelling behavior and electric resistance of the grafted materials were investigated.     

Graft copolymerization onto rubber. V. Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto rubber using potassium peroxydiphosphate as initiator

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto natural rubber (NR) is investigated using potassium peroxydiphosphate as the initiator. The rate of grafting is determined by varying monomer concentration, peroxydiphosphate concentration, and temperature. The graft yield increased with an increase in monomer concentration up to 1.4082M/L and thereafter the graft yield decreases. The graft yield increases significantly with an increase of peroxydiphosphate concentration up to 150 X 10^-1M/L and thereafter the graft yield decreases. The grafting reaction is temperature dependent. A suitable kinetic scheme is proposed and the rate equation is evaluated.     

Grafting Vinyl Monomers onto Tussah Silk Fiber. I. Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate onto Nonmulberry Tussah Silk by Tetravalent Cerium Ion

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto nonmulberry natural tussah silk fibers was investigated in aqueous solution using tetravalent cerium as initiator. The rate of grafting was determined by varying the monomer concentration, the cerium (IV) concentration, the temperature, and the nature of the silk. With increasing monomer concentration the graft yield increased (up to 0.657 M) and thereafter decreased. The graft yield also increased with increasing cerium (IV) concentration. The graft-on was influenced by chemical modification of the tussah silk prior to grafting. The effect of certain inorganic salts on the rate of grafting was investigated.     

Grafting Vinyl Monomers onto Silk Fibers. V. Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate onto Silk with Potassium Permanganate as Initiator

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto silk fibers in aqueous solution with the use of manganese (IV) ions as initiator was investigated. The rate of grafting was determined by varying monomer, acidity of the medium, temperature, nature of silk, and the reaction medium. The graft yield increases significantly with increase of manganese (IV) concentration up to 15 meq/liter; with further increase of manganese (IV) concentration, the graft yield decreases. The effect of the increase of monomer concentration brings about a significant enhancement in the graft yield up to 7%, and with further increase of monomer concentration the graft yield decreases. The graft yield is considerably influenced by chemical modification prior to grafting. The effect of some inorganic salts and anionic surfactants on the rate of grafting has been investigated.     

阴离子型接枝微粒PDAC/PSA的制备及对谷氨酸的吸附性能初探

采用自由基聚合法在溶液聚合体系中将功能单体丙烯酰氧乙基三甲基氯化铵(DAC)接枝于聚苯乙烯伯胺微球(PSA)表面,制备了接枝微粒PDAC/PSA,考察了主要因素对接枝聚合的影响,并初步探究了其对L-谷氨酸的吸附特性。结果表明,在反应温度25℃、单体质量分数为6%、引发剂占单体质量的1.2%的条件下,可制得接枝度为431mg/g的接枝微粒,其对L-谷氨酸的吸附量达140mg/g。     

Graft copolymerization of maleic anhydride/styrene onto isotactic polypropylene using supercritical CO2

The free‐radical grafting of maleic anhydride (MAH) and styrene (St) onto isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was studied by thermal decomposition of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) using supercritical CO₂ as a solvent and swelling agent. Several effects of molar ratio of monomer, soaking temperature and time, reaction time, and reaction pressure on the graft degree were discussed. It was found that the addition of St to the grafting system as a comonomer could significantly enhance the graft degree of the grafted PP. Under the optimal reaction condition, the maximum of iPP grafting MAH and St in supercritical CO₂ medium was 10.58%. The chemical structures and properties of grafting copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the supercritical CO₂ method had noticeable advantages over the existed method when compared, such as a lower temperature, a higher graft degree, easy separation, and environmentally benign. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Grafting onto Starch. IV. Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate by Use of AIBN as Radical Initiator

Grafting of poly(methyl methacrylate) onto starch has been investigated in aqueous medium by using AIBN as radical initiator. Starch-g-PMMA has been characterized by determination of starch in the graft copolymer. Percentage of grafting has been determined as functions of concentration of monomer, concentration of initiator, reaction time, and temperature. From scanning electron microscopic studies, evidence for grafting of PMMA onto starch has been presented.     

Synthesis of styrene‐g‐polyisoprene nanoparticles by emulsion polymerization and its effect on properties of polyisoprene composites

The graft copolymerization of styrene onto nanosized polyisoprene (PIP) was carried out by using cumene hydroperoxide and tetraethylene pentamine as redox initiators. The high conversion and high degree of grafting could be achieved when a small particle was used as the core polymer. The grafting efficiency and monomer conversion increased with increasing reaction temperature and monomer concentration. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the small PIP nanoparticles were completely coated with polystyrene (PS) by grafting resulting in a core shell morphology of nanosized graft PIP. Nanosized PIP and nanosized PS‐g‐PIP could be used as compatibilizers for vulcanized rubber latex. The addition of nanosized PIP and PS‐g‐PIP strongly influenced the mechanical properties of the natural rubber (NR)‐based compound. Incorporation of nanosized PIP and PS‐g‐PIP resulted in an improvement of the resistance of the compounds to heat aging. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.