Synthesis of graft polymers from an ozonized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). I. Study of the radical polymerization of styrene initiated by an ozonized EVA

Polymers can be ozonized with an ozone/oxygen mixture to create peroxides and hydroperoxides on the polymer chain. These heat-sensitive functional groups can be used to initiate radical polymerization of vinyl monomers and give graft copolymers. The properties of these copolymers are well described in literature; however, we notice that available data concerning decomposition rate constants are inconsistent. Decomposition rate measurements, time of assay of free radicals and stability of the ozonized polymers do not give the same results. In this work, we studied the kinetics of the styrene polymerization initiated by an ozonized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. Consequently, the f·kd product can be calculated (f is the efficiency and kd the decomposition rate constant). The ozonized copolymer is not similar to usual radical initiators. The initial viscosity of the solution has an important effect on the calculation of the kinetic values. Activation energy and Arrhenius coefficient are different than the one obtained for the usual initiators. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.