Evaluation of methods used for analysing maleic anhydride grafted onto polypropylene by reactive processing

Grafting of maleic anhydride onto polypropylene, in the presence of peroxid es, was performed through reactive processing. The samples obtained were su bmitted to several analyses in order to check for conversion of the acid gr oups to anhydrides and whether purification was necessary. Quantification o f reacted maleic anhydride was tested by titration of acid groups and Fouri er transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was concluded that each type of processing requires verification of the necessity to purify the samples for removal of residual maleic anhydride. Spectroscopy was shown to be bett er for the quantification of reacted maleic anhydride, as long as the sampl es are submitted to thermal treatment at 130 degrees C for at least 24 h. ( C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.