Polyethylene-graft-poly(tert-butylacrylate)
(PE-g-PtBA) copolymers were prepared
by using a combination of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP),
hydrobromination, and visible light-induced free radical polymerization.
First, cis-cyclooctene was polymerized via ROMP in
the presence of a chain transfer agent and quantitatively hydrobrominated.
Poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA)
chains were then grown via a grafting from approach from the Br-substituted
linear poly(ethylene) (PE) backbone using dimanganese decacarbonyl
(Mn2(CO)10) under visible light. The effect
of Mn2(CO)10 concentration and irradiation time
on the grafting density and efficiency was evaluated. The tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) esters of the
graft copolymers were hydrolyzed into acrylic acid functionalities
by acidolysis to obtain hydrophilic polyolefins. The precursor polymer,
graft copolymer, and hydrolyzed polymer were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, Fourier transform infrared, atomic
force microscopy, and contact angle measurements.