STUDIES ON THE OXIDATION AND GRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF POLY(ETHER-URETHANE)

A new method of graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AAM) on poly(ether-urethane) (PEU) which was prepared from poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMG), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and ethylene diamine or butanediol extender was investigated. Hydroperoxide group was first introduced onto the surface of PEU through photo-oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, then it was reacted with ferrous ion or N,N-dimethyl toluidine (DMT) to initiate AAM graft copolymerization on PEU surface. The graft reaction could be carried out effectively at low temperature. The formation of graft copolymer has been verified by its water absorption % and the scanning electron microscopy photographs. Some model compounds of PEU soft segment and hard segment were synthesized in order to clarify the site of graft reaction. The results of oxida-tion and graft copolymerization of model compounds showed that this graft copolymerization possesses higher selectivity, and it takes place predominately at the polyether segments, because the ether linkage in soft segment is very sensitive to oxidation and can form hydroperoxide easily. Thus, the grafting site appears to be at α-carbon of the ether linkage.

STUDIES ON THE OXIDATION AND GRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF POLY(ETHER-URETHANE)*

 A new method of graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AAM) on poly(ether-urethane) (PEU) which was prepared from poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMG), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and ethylene diamine or butanediol extender was investigated. Hydroperoxide group was first introduced onto the surface of PEU through photo-oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, then it was reacted with ferrous ion or N,N-dimethyl toluidine (DMT) to initiate AAM graft copolymerization on PEU surface. The graft reaction could be carried out effectively at low temperature.The formation of graft copolymer has been verified by its water absorption % and the scanning electron microscopy photographs.Some model compounds of PEU soft segment and hard segment were synthesized in order to clarify the site of graft reaction. The results of oxidation and graft copolymerization of model compounds showed that this graft copolymerization possesses higher selectivity,and it takes place predominately at the polyether segments,because the ether linkage in soft segment is very sensitive to oxidation and can form hydroperoxide easily.Thus,the grafting site appears to be at α-carbon of the ether linkage.