Solid Phase Graft Copolymerization: 2. Effect of Toluene

Abstract

Toluene was used as the interfacial agent to enhance the graft level in the solid phase graft copolymerization of polypropylene and maleic anhydride. The effect of catalyst and interfacial agent on the graft efficiency was investigated. It was found that the interfacial agent enhanced the graft level significantly at high initiator concentrations. At low initiator concentrations, however, only a slight increase in graft level was observed. In the absence of catalyst and interfacial agent, at high initiator concentrations (12.5%), the graft obtained was only 3.9%. In the presence of 5% catalyst and 10% interfacial agent the graft level doubled to 7.9%. This significant increase in graft level was attributed primarily to the catalyst which increased the graft level at an average from 3.9% to 6.8%. The final colour of the reaction product was influenced only by the type and amount of catalyst and not by the interfacial agent. The addition of interfacial agent resulted in agglomerates and lumps in the final product. This product had a tendency to adhere to the mixing blades in the reactor. This may be attributed to the uneven addition of the interfacial agent into the reactor. Quantitative determination of the graft level was performed by wet chemical methods and FTi.r. was used to determine the presence of maleic anhydride in the copolymer.

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Solid Phase Graft Copolymerization; Interfacial Agents; Graft Levels

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0032-3861

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1989 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 1989

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