CRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF 4-VINYLPYRIDINE AND METHYL ACRYLATE ONTO POLYETHYLENE FILM BY RADIOCHEMICAL METHOD

Graft copolymerization of 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) and methyl acrylate (M4) onto polyethylene (PE) was studied in aqueous medium in air by th e mutual irradiation method. The percentage of grafting was determined as a function of the (i) total dose, (ii) monomer concentration, and (iii) amount of water. The effect of different alcohols such as methan ol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, and pentanol on the percentag e of grafting of 4-VP and MA was studied. The effects of different ami nes on the percentage of grafting of 4-VP were also studied. The graft copolymers were characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis and by identifying the isolated polymer from the grafted film. Grafte d PE film was tested for permeability behavior and was found to be per meable to a 0.5% aqueous sodium chloride solution. A plausible mechani sm is suggested to explain the grafting of 4-VP and MA onto PE film. ( C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.