SWELLING-ASSISTED GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF 4-VINYL PYRIDINE ON POLY(ETHYLENE-TEREPHTHALATE) FILMS USING A BENZOYL PEROXIDE INITIATOR

Graft copolymerization of 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) on poly(ethylene ter ephthalate) (PET) films using a benzoylperoxide (Bz(2)O(2)) initiator was investigated under different conditions including polymerization t ime, temperature, monomer concentration, and initiator concentration. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as swelling agent to promote the in corporation and the subsequent polymerization of 4-VP to PET films. Ma ximum percent grafting was obtained when the polymerization was carrie d for a period of two hours at 65 degrees C. Increasing the monomer co ncentration from 0.2M to 0.8M and Bz(2)O(2) concentration from 1.0 X 1 0(-3)M to 2.5 X 10(-3)M was accompanied by a significant enhancement i n percent grafting. Monomer diffusion on PET films and its effect on t he grafting yield were studied and intrinsic viscosities of grafted fi lms were also measured. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.