Nano-reactors for controlling the selectivity of the free radical grafting of maleic anhydride onto polypropylene in the melt

Dean Shi, R. K Y Li, Yutian Zhu, Zhuo Ke, Jinghua Yin, Wei Jiang, Guo-Hua Hu

    Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

    28 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This paper reports on a successful application of the concept of nanoreactors to effectively controlling the selectivity of the free radical grafting of maleic anhydride (MAH) onto polypropylene (PP) in the melt, an industrially relevant process. More specifically, a free radical initiator of type ROOR was first confined into (or encapsulated by) the galleries of an organically modified montmorillonite (o-MMT) whose interdistance was 2.4 nm. Primary free radicals (RO ·) formed inside the o-MMT galleries had to diffuse out before they could react with the PP backbone. The controlled release of the primary free radicals significantly increased the grafting degree of MAH onto PP and greatly reduced the level of the chain scission of the latter. Those results were better understood by electron spin resonance studies on model systems and by Monte Carlo simulations. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1443-1454
    JournalPolymer Engineering and Science
    Volume46
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2006

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