Neodymium oxide‐assisted melt free‐radical grafting of maleic anhydride on isotactic‐polypropylene by reactive extrusion

Rare earth oxide, neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃), ‐assisted melt free‐radical grafting of maleic anhydride (MAH) on isotactic‐polypropylene (i‐PP) was carried out by reactive extrusion. The experimental results reveal that the addition of Nd₂O₃ into reactive system leads to an enhancement of the grafting degree of MAH, along with an elevated degradation of i‐PP matrix. When Nd₂O₃ content is 4.5 mmol %, the increment of the grafting degree of MAH (maximally) is up to about 30% compared with that of the related system without adding Nd₂O₃, while the severest degradation of i‐PP matrix simultaneously occurs. On the basis of the reaction mechanism of PP‐g‐MAH proposed before, the sequence of β‐scission and grafting reaction is discussed in detail. It is found that, for the reactive system studied, most tertiary macroradicals first undergo β‐scission, and then, grafting reaction with MAH takes place at the new radical chain ends. The imported Nd₂O₃ has no effect on the aforementioned reaction mechanism, whereas it enhances the initiating efficiency of the initiator, dicumyl peroxide (DCP). We tentatively explain the experimental results by means of synergistic effect between DCP and Nd₂O₃. It is calculated that the synergistic effect is maximal when the molar ratio of DCP to Nd₂O₃ is approximately 1:6. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 134–142, 2006