Grafting onto isotactic polypropylene. III. Gamma rays induced graft copolymerization of water soluble vinyl monomers

Abstract

Abstract Graft copolymerization of water soluble vinyl monomers such as acrylic acid and acrylamide onto isotactic polypropylene by the pre‐irradiation method has been studied. Grafting was carried out in a water and water‐methanol solvent system. The percentage of grafting has been determined as a function of (i), total dose (ii) concentration of monomers, (iii) reaction time, and (iv) the composition and amount of water‐methanol solvent system. Water was found to be the best solvent for affording maximum grafting. The grafted samples were characterized by spectroscopic and thermogravimetric methods. Acrylic acid was found to be more reactive than acrylamide towards graft copolymerization.