Free radical reactions, graft copolymerization

The modification of the properties of cotton cellulosic textile products, through free radical-initiated graft copolymerization reactions with vinyl monomers, has been investigated at the Southern Laboratory for a number of years (6, 9). In this chapter, we summarize the basic mechanisms and principles involved in free radical reactions of cellulose, initiated by high energy radiation, ceric ion in acidic solution, and aqueous solutions of ferrous ion and hydrogen peroxide. Some of the properties of fibrous cotton cellulose graft copolymers are also presented. 

Graft Copolymers. In graft copolymerization, a preformed polymer with residual double bonds or active hydrogens is either dispersed or dissolved in the monomer in the absence or presence of a solvent. On this backbone, the monomer is grafted in free-radical reaction. Impact polystyrene is made commercially in three steps first, solid polybutadiene rubber is cut and dispersed as small particles in styrene monomer. Secondly, bulk prepolymerization and thirdly, completion of the polymerization in either bulk or aqueous suspension is made. During the prepolymerization step, styrene starts to polymerize by itself forming droplets of polystyrene with phase separation. When equal phase volumes are attained, phase inversion occurs. The droplets of polystyrene become the continuous phase in which the rubber particles are dispersed. R. L. Kruse has determined the solubility parameter for the phase equilibrium. 

Graft Copolymerization by Conventional Free Radical Reactions... 

This is still the most popular method for graft copolymerization of elastomers via free radicals. Free radicals (I) are generated from the same types of initiators which are used for free radical polymerization and copolymerization (see Section 2.4). In general, these radicals are formed in the presence of a polydiene elastomer and a monomer therefore, there are several possible reactions of these initiator-derived radicals which can occur as shown in Eqs. (2.93)-(2.96). The competition between initiation of monomer polymerization (Eq. 

Grafting a second polymer to the NR molecule in the latex stage is one of the many routes to chemically modified NR. An olefinic monomer with unsaturated double bonds such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene and acrylonitrile are important monomers used for such grafting. " For example, MMA monomer is first converted into an emulsion with some suitable emulsifiers and then mixed with NR latex to copolymerize the monomer in a seeded emulsion polymerization process. It is important to ensure the seed latex particles are saturated with the monomer supplied through diffusion from the emulsified monomer droplets. An oil- or water-soluble initiator can be used to start the reaction. With proper control of the system and reaction conditions, the free radical reaction can be made to propagate within the latex particles as far as possible, so that only grafted NR occurs, without the formation of free homopolymer from the monomer. In this way only chemically modified NR... 

Another great challenge in polyolefin technology has been the production of polyolefins with polar functionalities. The most advanced method for producing functional polyolefins, in addition to free radical reactions and grafting reactions, is copolymerization with co-ordination catalysts. 

A number of metal chelates containing transition metals in their higher oxidation states are known to decompose by one electron transfer process to generate free radical species, which may initiate graft copolymerization reactions. Different transition metals, such as Zn, Fe, V, Co, Cr, Al, etc., have been used in the preparation of metal acetyl acetonates and other diketonates. Several studies demonstrated earlier that metal acetyl acetonates can be used as initiators for vinyl polymeriza-... 

In its simplest form the direct grafting method involves the irradiation of polymeric substrate in the absence or presence of oxygen. Graft copolymerization of the monomer to the polymer is then initiated through the free radicals generated in the latter. The reaction can be schematically written as ... 

An effective method of NVF chemical modification is graft copolymerization [34,35]. This reaction is initiated by free radicals of the cellulose molecule. The cellulose is treated with an aqueous solution with selected ions and is exposed to a high-energy radiation. Then, the cellulose molecule cracks and radicals are formed. Afterwards, the radical sites of the cellulose are treated with a suitable solution (compatible with the polymer matrix), for example vinyl monomer [35] acrylonitrile [34], methyl methacrylate [47], polystyrene [41]. The resulting copolymer possesses properties characteristic of both fibrous cellulose and grafted polymer. 

Photoinduced free radical graft copolymerization onto a polymer surface can be accomplished by several different techniques. The simplest method is to expose the polymer surface (P-RH) to UV light in the presence of a vinyl monomer (M). Alkyl radicals formed, e.g. due to main chain scission or other reactions at the polymer surface can then initiate graft polymerization by addition of monomer (Scheme 1). Homopolymer is also initiated (HRM-). 

Graft copolymerization can be initiated by physical or chemical processes. This paper describes methods for chemical initiation of grafting onto cellulosic fibers with special emphasis on recent developments, i.e. studies from the last 10-15 years. The initiation reactions may be free radical or ionic processes. The grafting reaction may also be a condensation or addition process. 

As is well known from free radical copolymerization theory, the composition of the copolymers will depend only on the propagation reaction. The relative ability of monomer to add to a growing chain is influenced by the nature of the last chain unit and by the relative concentration. Generally, chain transfer to monomer by polymer radicals will occur to an appreciable extent, and the final product will be made up of homopolymers, multisegment block copolymers, and branched and grafted structures. In the presence of two or more monomers,... 

Deters (14) vibromilled a blend of cellulose and cellulose triacetate. The acetic acid content of cellulose acetate decreased with grinding time (40 h) while that of the cellulose increased, suggesting the formation of a block or graft copolymer or of an esterification reaction by acetic acid developed by mechanical reaction. Baramboim (/5) dissolved separately in CO polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(vinyl acetate). After mixing equal volumes of solutions of equivalent polymer concentration, the solvent was evaporated at 50° C under vacuum and the resultant product ball-milled. The examination of the ball-milled products showed the formation of free radicals which copolymerized. 

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