KINETIC-STUDY OF THE REACTION BETWEEN ATACTIC POLYPROPYLENE AND DICUMYL PEROXIDE BY DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL-ANALYSIS

The reaction kinetics of atactic polypropylene (APP) in bulk with dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a radical generator have been studied by means of thermal differential analysis. Hydrogen abstraction from APP by cumyl radicals gives (polypropylen)yl radicals which undergo transfer to DCP, chain scission, disproportionation, and crosslinking, as well as reaction with cumyl radicals. Chain scission is shown to be the faster and crosslinking the slower of these two processes, even at temperatures of 473 K and above. Activation parameters are determined, and an analysis of the different processes is made on their basis.