SYNOPSISGrafting dicarboxylic anhydrides onto polyolefins has great practical importance. The process of grafting maleic anhydride onto high-density polyethylene in the presence of various comonomers in an intermeshing corotating twin-screw extruders was studied. Three types of comonomers were investigated (i) vinyl monomers, including styrene and methacrylic acid; (ii) esters of dicarboxylic acids forming succinic groups after grafting, such as fumaric acid; and (iii) esters of fumaric and maleic acid and ethylenically unsaturated cyclic dicarboxylic anhydrides, such as Diels-Alder adducts of maleic anhydride; and (iv) dienes and dodecenyl succinic anhydride. 0 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

An experimental study is reported on the effect of colorants on the warpage, shrinkage, and mechanical properties of rotomolded polyethylene (PE) parts. Five pigments were investigated (titanium dioxide white, cadmium oxide yellow, iron oxide red, carbon black, and phthalocyanine blue). Their concentration was in the range of 0.11 to 0.36 wto/o. The pigments were added to the linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) by various techniques, dry blended in low intensity or high intensity mixer or compounded with a single-screw extruder. Some blends also contained 0.077 wtYo zinc stearate as surfactant. It was found that zinc stearate surfactant in the dry blend increases warpage by about a factor of 2 and shrinkage by -30%. but color quality and powder handling properties are improved. The dry-blended pigments concentrate along the fusion lines of the PE particles in rotomolded parts, which results in >50% decrease of impact strength with some pigment-surfactant combinations. Mold pressurization minimizes warpage and shrinkage, but causes no significant improvement in impact resistance. Impact resistance can be improved by using compounded pigments or making two-layer parts with a pigmented outer and unpigmented inner layer.

An experimental study on the use of regrind in rotomolded polyethylene parts is described. We investigated the introduction of 15, 30, and 100% reground polyethylene into the rotational molding operations. The number of regrind cycles varied from one to four. Rotational molding was done in air and nitrogen inner gas, respectively. The mechanical properties of the parts were investigated, including low temperature dart impact test, tensile test, and Izod impact test. Generally it was found that nitrogen atmospheres substantially improved the impact properties of rotomolded parts made with virgin polyethylene. With parts containing 15% and 30% regrind, the impact properties of boxes made in nitrogen are substantially higher than those molded in air. Also, adjustment of oven time to slight undercure for 15% regrind containing parts rotomolded in air gave good impact properties.