Effect of Solvent on the Grafting Polymerization of Polyethylene Wax with Maleic anhydride

Abstract

In this study, we have investigated the influence of the nature of solvent on the grafting reaction of maleic anhydride onto polyethylene wax obtained as a by-product in a high density polyethylene plant. The results show that the grafting ratio in xylene as a solvent was higher than toluene. This is because xylene has excellent monomer solubility, swelling property and miscibility. It has been also observed that grafting degree shows an initial jump in percentage of grafting with increasing amount of solvent, from 0% v/w to 200% v/w giving maximum grafting in 200% v/w and then slightly decreases on further increase in the amount of solvent and becomes almost constant. It can be also seen that gel content was not formed under the use of solvent. It means that solvent prevented cross-linking reaction due to chain transfer reactions to solvent molecules. Studies of melt viscosity at 140 o C showed that viscosity increased after grafting of maleic anhydride onto polyethylene wax.