SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF 2-VINYLNAPHTHALENE-EPDM-METHYL METHACRYLATE CRAFT COPOLYMER

A graft copolymer of 2-vinylnaphthalene (2-VN) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) was synthesized in tetrahydrofuran using benzoyl peroxide. The effects of EPDM conten t, mol ratio of 2-VN to MMA, reaction time, reaction temperature, and initiator concentration in the graft copolymerization were examined. T he light resistance, thermal stability, and the tensile properties of the graft copolymer were investigated by using Fade-o-Meter, thermogra vimetric analyzer, and tensile tester. It was found that the light res istance and the heat resistance as well as the tensile strength of the graft copolymer are considerably better than those of the acrylonitri le-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.