Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1984, 49, 1156-1166
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19841156

The influence of monomer structure on polypropylene modification in emulsion

Pavol Citovickýa, Darina Mikulášováa, Jiří Mejzlíkb, Josef Majerb, Viera Chrástováa and Jozef Beniskaa

a Slovak Institute of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, 812 37 Bratislava
b Chemopetrol, Research Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 656 49 Brno

Abstract

Oxidized isotactic polypropylene powder is chemically modified by monomers of widely differing structure, the reaction being carried out at 30 °C in aqueous emulsion in the presence of a ferrous chelate as an activator. Apart from the polymer bonded to the polypropylene carrier also some homopolymer is formed simultaneously during this heterogeneous polymerization initiated by polypropylene peroxides. The mutual proportion and amount of the resulting polymers may be considerably influenced by the properties of the monomer used, such as by its partial or total solubility in water, its polarity and reactivity as well as by the substituent size. Moreover, the chelate and emulsifier type as well as the presence of organic liquid phase in the system play also an important role. The mechanistic discussion is focused to the early initiation stage of the polymerization. This period, together with the active participation of the monomer, is decisive for the formation of both polymer types produced in the system. The results obtained are in accordance with the observed heterogeneous distribution of -O-O- groups in oxidized polypropylene.