REACTION MECHANISM OF BENZOPHENONE-PHOTOINITIATED CROSSLINKING OF POLYETHYLENE

The radical intermediates, the crosslink microstructures, and the reaction mechanism of benzophenone (BP)-photoinitiated crosslinking of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and model compounds (MD) have been reviewed in detail.The spin-trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra obtained from the LDPE/BP systems with spin-trap agents showthat two kinds of polymer radical intermediates are mainly formed: tertiary carbon and secondary carbon radicals. The spin-trapping ESR studies of MD/BP systems give further evidence that photocrosslinking reactions of PE predominantly takeplace at sites of tertiary carbon, secondary carbon, and especially allylic carbon when available. The high resolution ~(13)C-NMR spectra obtained from LDPE and MD systems show that the crosslink microstructures have H- and Y-type links andthat their concentrations are of the same order. The fluorescence, ESR ~(13)C and ~1H-NMR spectra from the PE and MDsystems demonstrate that the main photoreduction product of BP(PPB) is benzpinacol formed by the recombination of twodiphenylhydroxymethyl (K·) radical intermediates. Two new PPB products: an isomer of benzpinacol with quinoid structure,1-phenylhydroxymethylene-4-diphenylhydroxymethyl-2, 5-cyclohexadiene and three kinds of α-alkyl-benzhydrols have beendetected and identified. These results provide new experimental evidence for elucidating the reaction mechanism in the BP-photoinitiated crosslinking of polyethylene.

REACTION MECHANISM OF BENZOPHENONE -PHOTOINITIATED CROSSLINKING OF POLYETHYLENE*

 The radical intermediates, the crosslink microstructures, and the reaction mechanism of benzophenone (BP)-photoinitiated crosslinking of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and model compounds (MD) have been reviewed in detail.The spin-trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra obtained from the LDPE/BP systems with spin-trap agents showthat two kinds of polymer radical intermediates are mainly formed: tertiary carbon and secondary carbon radicals. The spin-trapping ESR studies of MD/BP systems give further evidence that photocrosslinking reactions of PE predominantly take place at sites of tertiary carbon,secondary carbon,and especially allylic carbon when available.The high resolution ¹³C-NMR spectra obtained from LDPE and MD systems show that the crosslink microstructures have H-and Y-type links and that their concentrations are of the same order.The fluorescence,ESR,¹³C and ¹H-NMR spectra from the PE and MD systems demonstrate that the main photoreduction product of BP(PPB) is benzpinacol formed by the recombination of two diphenylhydroxymethyl(K·)radical intermediates.Two new PPB products:an isomer of benzpinacol with quinoid structure,1-phenylhydroxymethylene-4-diphenylhydroxymethyl-2,5-cyclohexadiene and three kinds of α-alkyl-benzhydrols have been detected and identified.These results provide new experimental evidence for elucidating the reaction mechanism in the BP-hotoinitiated crosslinking of polyethylene.