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Reactive extrusion of polypropylene with supercritical carbon dioxide: Free radical grafting of maleic anhydride
Author(s) -
Dorscht B. M.,
Tzoganakis C.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.11561
Subject(s) - maleic anhydride , polypropylene , supercritical carbon dioxide , reactive extrusion , supercritical fluid , materials science , extrusion , grafting , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , carbon dioxide , polymer , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , copolymer , engineering
A reactive extrusion process for the functionalization of polypropylene with maleic anhydride in the presence of supercritical carbon dioxide was studied. Supercritical carbon dioxide was used in this reactive extrusion system to reduce the viscosity of the polypropylene melt phase by forming a polymer–gas solution in order to promote better mixing of the reactants. Subsequently, the effect of supercritical carbon dioxide on the level of grafting, product homogeneity, and molecular weight was evaluated. Analysis of the products revealed that the use of supercritical carbon dioxide led to improved grafting when high levels of maleic anhydride were used. The experimental results showed no evidence of an improvement in the homogeneity of the product, while melt flow rate measurements showed a reduction in the degradation of polypropylene during the grafting reaction when low levels of maleic anhydride were employed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1116–1122, 2003