Synthesis of multifunctional polypropylene via solid phase cografting and its grafting mechanism

Abstract

AbstractFunctional monomers, maleic anhydride (MAH) and vinyl acetate (VAc), were used as comonomers in the solid‐phase grafting of polypropylene (PP). Quantitative determination of the graft level of both MAH and VAc performed by titration and FTIR methods allowed for a good appreciation of the interaction of MAH and VAc. A product with high‐graft level of both VAc and MAH was obtained when the feeding molar ratio of MAH/VAc approached 1 : 1. The melt flow rate (MFR) of the grafted PP decreased with the increase in the feeding amount of VAc. It was proposed that MAH and VAc molecules could form a kind of stable transition state during the graft polymerization and that the reactivity of both monomers were enhanced. The resulting multifunctional PP offers possibility for the development of novel PP‐based polymer blends and composites, thus extending the application field of PP. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 929–935, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10121