ROLE OF HOMOPOLYMERIZATION IN THE PEROXIDE-CATALYZED REACTION OF MALEIC-ANHYDRIDE AND POLYETHYLENE IN THE ABSENCE OF SOLVENT

In an attempt to elucidate the role of the homopolymerization of MAH in the graft copolymerization and/or the crosslinking of LDPE, the effect of DMF on the reaction of MAH with radical catalysts in the presence of molten LDPE was investigated. The product obtained from the addition of 2 wt% dicumyl peroxide (DCP) to molten LDPE at 140 degree C, was completely xylene-soluble. The addition of a mixture of DCP and 10 wt% MAH, based on PE, in the absence and in the presence of DMF, resulted in the quantitative recovery of xylene-soluble, MAH-containing LDPE. The effective homopolymerization of MAH, in the reaction time used in this work requires a catalyst having a half-life of less than 30 min at reaction temperature.