Melt grafting of n‐butyl methacrylate onto poly(vinyl chloride): Synthesis and characterization*

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The graft copolymerization of n-butyl methacrylate monomer onto compounded poly(vinyl chloride) was carried out by melt-mixing process in a Brabender plasticorder (BPCR) using a free-radical initiator. The reaction conditions such as initiator and monomer concentration, shear rate (rpm), residence time, and temperature were optimized in the mixing head of BPCR attached to a torque rheometer. The graft copolymers were Soxhlet extracted with cyclohexane and were characterized by intrinsic viscosity, FTIR, and 13 C-NMR spectroscopy. A maximum of 14% grafting was obtained. The graft copolymer showed significant improvement in processibility and both thermal and mechanical properties. Scale-up studies of the optimized recipe were carried out in a single-screw extruder for commercial trials/evaluation.

In Commodity Plastics

“…Initiator and monomer concentrations, shear rate, residence time, and temperature were optimized to maximize the grafting effi ciency at 14%. Processability, thermal, and mechanical properties all showed improvement subsequent to grafting [14] . Ghaffari and Taghizadeh investigated the kinetics and mechanisms of graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate onto PVC using benzoyl peroxide as the freeradical initiator.…”