Studies on graft copolymers derived by ionizing radiation

Abstract

It has recently been reported' that the gamma-ray irradiation of several monomer-polymer combinations produces graft copolymers. This paper is concerned with the mechanism of the grafting process and application of four different types of copolymers. The solution property behavior of various graft copolymers will be described elsewhere.2 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDUREAll experiments were performed with polymer h s having limited swelling by the monomer employed. The technique generally involved suspension of the polymer film in a large excess of monomer enclosed within a 1 X 12 inch Pyrex ampule. The ampules were sealed under nitrogen and placed in cobalt-60 gamma sources of varying intensities. Dose rates of 200,000 rep per hour were employed for routine operations and, for kinetic measurements, dose rates ranging from 20,000 to 300,000 rep per hour were used. (The dose rates were measured using a high level ionization chamber.) All irradiations were performed at room temperature. Initially, distilled monomer was employed, but it was later found that commercial, undistilled monomer containing inhibitor could be employed, The inhibitor caused a short induction period which was followed by a rate of grafting identical to that obtained with distilled monomer. In grafting experiments with acrylonitrile, saturated aqueous solutions were found to be more advantageous than bulk acrylonitrile, because of the rapid homopolymerization rate of the latter. Grafting exeriments with vinylcarbazole were performed with 20 weight per cent solutions of the monomer in toluene.

Proton‐exchange membranes via the grafting of styrene and acrylic acid onto fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer by a preirradiation technique. III. Thermal and mechanical properties of the membranes and their sulfonated derivatives

“…Radiation-induced graft copolymerization on different fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP), and poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) has been widely studied. [5][6][7][8][9] However, among fluoropolymers, FEP has drawn the most attention because its radiation stability is better than that of other fluoropolymers.…”

XPS studies of radiation grafted PTFE-g-polystyrene sulfonic acid membranes

“…Radiation‐grafted sulfonic acid membranes have been prepared by grafting of styrene or its derivatives onto different base polymers 8–17. However, fluorocarbon polymers are commonly used as base polymers, owing to their excellent chemical inertness and mechanical integrity 18…”

Ionizing Radiation for Preparation and Functionalization of Membranes and Their Biomedical and Environmental Applications

“…PEMFCs are in the vanguard of fuel cell technologies under development [84], and a schematic representation of its operation is represented in Figure 9. In 1957, Chen et al reported for the first time cation-exchange studies on a membrane prepared by the radiation grafting technique [86]. This membrane was prepared by the radiation grafting of styrene (St) on a polyethylene (PE) film, and since then, several radiation-grafting processes and functional monomers have been studied.…”