Heterogeneous grafting of polypropylene and physical properties of graft blends

Polypropylene powder, as formed by typical Ziegler catalysts, can conveniently be hydroperoxidized in aqueous slurry. A cationic surfactant and potassium persulfate are used to achieve wetting and initiate oxidation. It is proposed that specific reaction between the quaternary ammonium cations and persulfate anion generates a water‐insoluble persulfate which decomposes to yield a hydrophobic radical species which initiates oxidation. Graft copolymers were prepared by using this polypropylene hydroperoxide, a redox catalyst, and either dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate or n‐butyl acrylate. These graft copolymers, dispersed in polypropylene, form two‐phase systems in the solid state. Under synthesis conditions which are believed to yield long side chains, the dispersed, more polar polymer was found in larger domains than observed with shorter side chains. Polypropylene spherulites were also distorted, although per cent crystallinity of the continuous polypropylene phase was hardly affected by the presence of graft. Mixtures of poly(propylene‐g‐butyl acrylate) and polypropylene are rather extensible and of low modulus. Low temperature tensile impact values are only slightly higher than for pure polypropylene. Addition of poly(butyl acrylate) to these blends increases both the low‐speed modulud and high‐speed tensile impact relative to the two component blends.