Polymeric peroxides with structures of peracid and diacyl peroxide types derived from acrylic acid-grafted polyethylene and hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

The formation of polymeric peroxides was investigated by the reaction of acrylic acid-grafted polyethylene (AA-g-PE) with hydrogen peroxide. The AA-g-PE was prepared by photografting of AA on low-density polyethylene film (thickness, 30 μm) in an aqueous medium. The AA-g-PE was treated with an aqueous solution of 35% hydrogen peroxide in the presence of methanesulfonic acid and N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to yield peroxides, the structures of which are the peracid and diacyl peroxide types as inferred from IR. The resultant polymeric peroxides released hydrogen peroxide from the substrate by thermal decomposition in aqueous medium. Grafting of acrylamide on the peroxidized samples was performed at 60°C in aqueous medium, and both peroxides showed a marked activity toward the graft initiation. The effect of ferrous ion on the decomposition and the grafting was also examined.