Graft polyolefins controlled radical polymerization

Free-radical grafting is a preferred way to add functionality to polyolefins, e.g. reaction with maleic anhy de. Amine functionalized polymers can be obtained by further derivatization of carboxylic anhydride functionalized polyolefin with amines. Polymeric materials containing amino groups are important because of the chemical versatility of the amino function. Although such procedures are useful, they lack control over molecular weight and functional-group distribution in the polymer. 

One way to control the blend morphology, as well the filler dispersion and filler/ matrix interaction in polyolefin composites, is to apply a compatibilizer, which acts as an interfacial agent promoting adhesion between the phases. Functionalized copolymers prepared by coordination copolymerization have many advantages over functionalized polyolefins prepared by radical polymerization or grafting. Coordination polymerization gives access to stereocontrol as well as to precise control of composition, crystallinity, molar mass, and their distributions. 

Recently, there has been considerable interest in controlling the generation of free radicals in polymerization reactions both initially and throughout the course of the reaction (150). There are many reasons for this controlling the polydispersity of the polymer formed MJM < 1.5), control of polymer end groups, prevention of side reactions, preparation of block copolymers, chemical control of the reaction kinetics, design of new polymer architectures, and controlled graft modification of polyolefins (151,152). 

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