Radiation grafting of thermo-sensitive poly(NIPAAm) onto silicone rubber

Pre-irradiation grafting of poly(NIPAA)m on silicone rubber was successfull y completed. It was found that the graft reaction could be done at higher t emperature and induced by peroxides produced during irradiation of samples in air. Production and decomposition of the peroxides were investigated. Th e activation energy of peroxides decomposition equals 27.2 kJ/mol. The stud y of grafting kinetics at various temperature showed the graft reaction is easy to carry out at higher temperature because the activation energy of gr aft reaction is 54.7 kJ/mol. Some results of direct radiation polymerizatio n in this system were also given. The surface of the grafted films had ther mal sensitivity and the LCST of them closed to 35 degrees C. The surface mo rphology and the swelling behaviors of the samples were observed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.