Maleic anhydride/styrene melt grafting and crosslinking onto ethylene‐octene copolymer

Abstract Melt grafting of the multimonomer system of maleic anhydride (MAH)/styrene (St) onto ethylene‐octene copolymer (POE) was performed by a twin‐screw extruder. The effects of St and initiator contents as well as MAH/St on the grafting reaction were investigated. The structure and properties of the grafted POE were characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, melt flow index, dynamic rheological behaviors, and thermogravimetric analysis. It is shown that the addition of St can significantly enhance MAH grafting degree onto POE. MFI values of grafted POE are affected not only by MAH/St copolymer concentration, but also by initiator concentration. These data indicate that the interaction and reaction between MAH and St monomers plays an important role in the grafting reaction. St improves the grafting reactivity of MAH and reacts with MAH before the two monomers graft onto POE. And high grafting degree can be obtained while the gel content is still low. Compared with neat POE, grafted POE shows different dynamic rheological behaviors and high thermal stability. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers