Yu SW  Choi JS  Na JS

Vol. 19,  No. 4, pp. 393-400, Dec.  2013

Polyethylene wax Maleic anhydride (MAH) Grafting degree Gel content Hydrolysis

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In this study, Polyethylene wax, which was produced in manufacturing process of high density polyethylene was grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH). The influences of reaction parameters on the graft polymerization as well as the effect of hydrolysis of the anhydride functions were investigated. The results show that the grafting degree increased and conversion of maleic anhydride decreased with an increase in MAH monomer content. This means the highest grafting efficiency for the reaction can be met when MAH monomer content is about 15 wt%. DCP (dicumyl peroxide) and DTBP (di-tert-butyl peroxide) have been used as the initiator and the highest yield of grafting was obtained when the initiator content is about 0.5 wt%. However, It can be seen that the gel content values of this polyethylene wax grafted MAH were below 2%. It was also observed that the grafting degree increased with an increase in reaction temperature and the maximum value was reached 2 hours later. Although MAH functions grafted onto polyethylene wax were mainly in the carboxylic acid forms, some anhydride form of MAH appeared in over 5% of grafting degree. As a result of hydrolysis reaction, it was observed that the conversion of anhydride group into carboxylic acid group was reached up to 10%.