Preparation and applicability of functionalized polyethylene with an ethylene/1,7‐octadiene copolymer

Abstract

The copolymerization of ethylene and 1,7-octadiene was carried out to synthesize polyethylene with unreacted vinyl groups. The prepared copolymer [poly (ethylene-co-1,7-octadiene) (PEOD)] was epoxidized with peracetic acid, m-chloroperbenzoic acid, or formic acid/ H 2 O 2 . Of these, peracetic acid gave the best results. Epoxidized PEOD was subjected to a reaction with 2-mercaptobenzimidazole and poly(L-lactic acid). The bromination of PEOD was also performed in the presence of a Br 2 /HBr solution at room temperature. The brominated poly(ethylene-co-1,7-octadiene) (PEOD-Br) was used as a macroinitiator for atom transfer radical polymerization. The polymerization of styrene, butyl methacrylate, and glycidyl methacrylate was performed in bulk or solution at 1208C with a PEOD-Br/ CuBr/2,2 0 -dipyridyl initiator system. The thermal properties of the graft copolymers and the efficiency of the graft polymerization were investigated. These graft copolymers have potential applications as interfacial modifiers.