EFFECT OF MINERAL AND ORGANIC-ACIDS ON RADIATION GRAFTING OF STYRENE ONTO POLYETHYLENE

A study has been made on the effect of mineral and organic acids on the radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene onto low-density polyethylene films. Effects of different solvents and dose rate of irradiation on the grafting yield were also investigated. The influence of irradiation time and monomer concentration in the presence and absence of acid on the initial rate and grafting yield was studied. The dependence of the grafting rate on monomer concentration was found to be of the order 1.34 (in absence of acid), 0.61 (in presence of HCl), and 1.25 (in presence of oxalic acid). Such acid enhancement of the radiation grafting process is of practical importance from an economical point of view.