CHEMICAL-REACTIONS AFFECTING THE FREE-RADICAL GRAFTING OF DIETHYL MALEATE ONTO ETHYLENE POLYMERS

This work describes a study of functionalization of ethylene polymers with diethyl maleate (DEM) initiated by dicumyl peroxide (DCP). The fu nctionalization degree (FD) has been determined by FT-IR and NMR spect roscopy and through comparison with reference mixtures of the same pol yethylenes with poly(diethyl fumarate). A good linear correlation was obtained between the ratio A1/A2 (where A1 and A2 are the integrated a reas of the vibrational bands at 1738 and 1460 cm(-1) respectively) an d the content of grafted 2-(diethyl succinate) groups. The data obtain ed show that in all cases the FD is appreciably affected by the amount of DEM, DCP and by the DCP/DEM ratio, thus allowing one to devise exp eriments aimed at controlled chemical modifications and to propose a r easonable reaction mechanism.