Supercritical carbon dioxide-assisted solid-phase free radical grafting of butyl acrylate onto PP

AbstractFree radical grafting copolymerization of butyl acrylate (BA) onto polypropylene (PP) matrix was investigated using supercritical CO2 as a swelling agent and carrier solvent. The monomer BA and initiator AIBN were first dissolved in supercritical CO2, and then these small molecules were diffused into the grafting zones of PP matrix. As grafting reaction temperature (about 80 °C) was far below the melting point, PP was modified in the solid phase. The effects of different experimental conditions such as soaking time and temperature, supercritical CO2 pressure; monomer and initiator concentration; PP particle diameter; solid phase grafting reaction time and temperature on grafting percentage were studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results and gel content experiment prove that the monomers were indeed grafted onto PP chains. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of the grafted sample indicates that the grafting branches PBA were homogeneously distributed onto the surfaces and micropores of PP particles. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results show that the grafted samples had a higher onset thermal degradation temperature and a lower weight loss at a particular temperature than pure PP. The water contact angle of PP-g-BA decreased from 98° to 72°, indicating the polarity and hydrophilicity of PP were improved effectively. The melt flow rate (MFR) and mechanical analysis results show that the grafting sample remained its versatile physical properties though introducing the grafting BA branch chain. This is prominent when it was compared with normal solid grafting product.