Functionalization of isotactic poly(propylene) with maleic anhydride in the solid phase

Abstract

Abstract The influence of temperature and type of initiator on the grafting efficiency of maleic anhydride onto isotactic poly(propylene) powder under solid‐state reaction conditions was investigated. The level of bonded maleic anhydride was found to be about 20% higher using aliphatic peroxide, such as lauroyl peroxide, in contrast to dibenzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, 2,5‐dimethyl‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylperoxyhexane or tert‐butyl perbenzoate as initiator. The higher grafting efficiency of maleic anhydride onto polyethylene when compared with poly(propylene) is accounted for by a higher kinetic length of the addition‐transfer chain reactions.