P. Mohanty et al., SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL GRAFTED MATERIALS WITH A VIEW TO INDUCING BIODEGRADABILITY INTO DAILY-USE POLYMERS .1., Polymer international, 38(3), 1995, pp. 227-232
Twenty polystyrene-g-gelatin samples were synthesised using Ce(IV) as
the free radical initiator in order to make biodegradable polystyrene.
Recovery of polystyrene from acid hydrolysis of the grafted sample an
d the appearance of new bands of gelatin at 3479 cm(-1), 3235 cm(-1),
1060 cm(-1) and 1370 cm(-1) in the IR spectrum of the grafted polystyr
ene sample constituted evidence of grafting, which was substantiated b
y evidence from C-13 NMR. Thermal studies, X-ray diffraction analysis,
spectral analysis, viscosity measurements, and swelling behaviour cha
racterised the potentially biodegradable polystyrene samples. A plausi
ble mechanism for grafting and the probable structure of the grafted s
ample are suggested. Degradation studies are in progress.