Graft copolymerizations of gaseous vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride on preirradiated polypropylene

The graft copolymerizations onto the preirradiated polypropylene fibers of gaseous vinyl chloride and also of gaseous vinylidene chloride were carried out. The fibers were preirradiated with γ-rays from a ⁶⁰Co source at ?78°C. in air to a total dose of 8 X 10⁵ rad, and were thus presumed to contain peroxide radicals which were active in grafting at ordinary temperature. The volume decrease of monomers at constant pressures due to the sorption and the grafting reaction was followed automatically at temperatures ranging from ?10 to 80°C. The net monomer consumption through the grafting process was estimated by subtracting the volume change due to the sorption from the total volume change of monomers. In general, the extent of grafting was lower at the higher grafting temperature and the decrease of the grafting activity of fibers was also accelerated. The grafting was found to increase almost linearly with the logarithm of the reaction time and the logarithm of the radiation of the radiation dose to the fibers. The extent of grafting was also proportional to the vapor pressure of monomer at a given reaction temperature and was supposed to be controlled by the amount of the monomer adsorbed. Raising the irradiation temperature higher than 0°C. brought about a marked decrease in the activity of preirradiated polypropylene. The grafting activity was successfully retained by the polymer for at least a fortnight at ?78°C.