RADIATION-INDUCED GRAFT-POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLONITRILE ONTO ISOTACTIC POLYPROPYLENE AND POLY(TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE-ETHYLENE) COPOLYMER FILMS

Direct radiation-induced grafting of acrylonitrile (AN) onto both isot actic polypropylene (IPP) and (tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene) copolymer (ET) films has been studied. The effect of grafting conditions such a s inhibitor and monomer concentrations and irradiation dose on the gra fting yield was investigated. Homopolymerization of acrylonitrile was reduced to a minimum using ferric chloride (FeCl3), and the suitable o ptimum concentration of the inhibitor was found to be 0.1 wt%. The hig her the monomer concentration, the higher the degree of grafting obtai ned. It was observed that the degree of grafting onto IPP was higher t han onto ET, at given grafting conditions. The effect of aging on IPP was also examined. IR spectroscopy showed that IPP was susceptible to photooxidation by aging. The swelling behaviour and electrical conduct ivity of the graft and hydrolysed graft films were investigated. The e lectrical conductivity was improved by hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrile in the graft chains.