Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.49, No.10, 1945-1950, 2009
Selectivity of Allylic Coagent-Mediated Polypropylene Maleation
The peroxide-initiated cografting of maleic anhydride (MAn) and allylic coagents to polypropylene (PP) is described. Both triallyl trimesate (TAM) and triallyl phosphate (TAP) are shown to be compatible with MAn, as the presence of either coagent has no apparent effect on the yield or distribution of anhydride grafts within functionalized PP. Therefore, the influence of chain scission on the melt-state rheological properties of maleated PP can be mitigated using coagent-assisted crosslinking. The success of this cografting strategy for controlling melt viscosity is shown to depend on the extent that a bimodal, branched architecture can provide the rheological properties demanded by a given application. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 49:1945-1950, 2009. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers