SYNOPSISGraft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and 4-chlorostyrene (4-Clst) onto ethylenepropylene-diene terpolymer ( EPDM ) was carried out using benzoyl peroxide as initiator.The effects of EPDM content, initiator concentration, solvent, mole ratio of 4-Clst to AN, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the graft copolymerization were examined. It was found that the light resistance, weatherability, and thermal stability of the acrylonitrile-EPDM-4-chlorostyrene graft copolymer were considerably better than those of acrylonitrilebutadiene-styrene copolymer. ma1 stability, and tensile properties of the graft copolymer were analyzed.
EXPERIMENTAL MaterialsAcrylonitrile (Junsei Chemical) was purified by standard procedures. Benzoyl peroxide ( Hayashi Chemical) was recrystallized from methanol. Ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer ( EPDM ) , having ethylidene norbornene as a termonomer ( Aldrich Chemical; ethylene/propylene = 50/50 by mol %, ML 50), was used as received. 4-Chlorostyrene (4-Clst) monomer was prepared by dehydration of 4-chlorophenylmethyl carbinol, as described previously." n-Hexane, dimetyl formamide (DMF) , acetone, toluene, cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were distilled prior to use.