Analysis of the solid phase copolymerization grafting process

Abstract

Solid phase grafting, which is an emerging process for the production of graft copolymers, was analyzed and reviewed as an environmentally friendly and inexpensive graft copolymerization process. The effect of the process variables; amount of initiator, catalyst, interfacial agent, monomer, reaction temperature and reaction time were examined. Two graft copolymers, produced by solid phase grafting, were used to show differences in graft percentage by changing the process conditions. The two graft copolymers used were maleic anhydride graft onto polypropylene and acrylic acid graft onto polystyrene. A proposed mechanism was given for each example and characteristic bonds proposed in the PP-g-MA mechanism was positively identified by NMR spectroscopy. Graft levels of 4 wt% PS-g-AAc and 9.6 wt% PP-g-MA were obtained providing comparable or superior graft levels to other grafting processes. Successful scale-up of the solid phase technique proved that this process is efficient and marketable.