NMR ANALYSIS OF POLYPROPYLENE MALEIC-ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER

Polypropylene-maleic anhydride (PP-MA) copolymer was prepared by the solid phase graft copolymerization process. The grafted polymer was analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wet chemical methods, solid state 13C n.m.r. analysis, and by liquid state 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy. The solid state, 50 MHz, 13C n.m.r. showed a distinct peak at 175 ppm indicating the presence of maleic anhydride functionality in the copolymer. These peaks were not detected in the liquid state 13C n.m.r. spectra due to the presence of dipolar broadening. The structure of the PP-MA copolymer as determined by n.m.r. was in agreement with the proposed structure given by Minoura et al.1 based on FTi.r. analysis. The extracted solution was analysed by g.c.-m.s. and it was found that unreacted maleic anhydride was extracted by the water. The presence of maleic anhydride in the copolymer was also confirmed by FTi.r. © 1990.