Effects of water on starch-g-polystyrene and starch-g-poly(methyl acrylate) extrudates

Polystyrene and poly(methyl acrylate) were grafted onto wheat starch by gamma radiation and chemical initiation, respectively. The respective percent add-on values were 46 and 45;68% of the polystyrene formed was grafted to starch, and the corresponding proportion of poly(methyl acrylate) was 41%. The molecular weight distributions of the homopolymer and graft portions were characterized, and extrusion conditions were established for production of ribbon samples of starch-g-PS and starch-g-PMA. Both copolymer types were considerably weakened by soaking in water, and this effect was more immediate and drastic for starch-g-poly(methyl acrylate). Both graft copolymers regained their original tensile strengths on drying, but the poly(methyl acrylate) specimens did not recover their original unswollen dimensions and retained high breaking elongations characteristic of soaked specimens. Tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of extruded and molded samples of both graft polymers are reported, and the plasticizing effects of water are summarized.     

Graft polymerization of vinyl acetate onto starch. Saponification to starch–g–poly(vinyl alcohol)

Graft polymerizations of vinyl acetate onto granular corn starch were initiated by cobalt-60 irradiation of starch-monomer-water mixtures, and ungrafted poly(vinylacetate) was separated from the graft copolymer by benzene extraction. Conversions of monomer to polymer were quantitative at a radiation dose of 1.0 Mrad. However, over half of the polymer was present as ungrafted poly-(vinyl acetate) (grafting efficiency less than 50%), and the graft copolymer contained only 34% grafted synthetic polymer (34% add-on). Lower irradiation doses produced lower conversions of monomer to polymer and gave graft copolymers with lower % add-on. Addition of minor amounts of acrylamide, methyl acrylate, and methacrylic acid as comonomers produced only small increases in % add-on and grafting efficiency. However, grafting efficiency was increased to 70% when a monomer mixture containing about 10% methyl methacrylate was used. Grafting efficiency could be increased to over 90% if the graft polymerization of vinyl acetate-methyl methacrylate was carried out near 0°C, although conversion of monomers to polymer was low and grafted polymer contained 40-50% poly(methyl methacrylate). Selected graft copolymers were treated with methanolic sodium hydroxide to convert starch–g–poly(vinyl acetate) to starch–g–poly(vinyl alcohol). The molecular weight of the poly(vinyl alcohol) moiety was about 30,000. The solubility of starch–g–poly(vinyl alcohol) in hot water was less than 50%; however, solubility could be increased by substituting either acid-modified or hypochlorite-oxidized starch for unmodified starch in the graft polymerization reaction. Vinyl acetate was also graft polymerized onto acid-modified starch which had been dispersed and partially solubilized by heating in water. A total irradiation dose of either 1.0 or 0.5 Mrad gave starch–g–poly(vinyl acetate) with about 35% add-on, and a grafting efficiency of about 40% was obtained. A film cast from a starch–g–poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymer in which homopolymer was not removed exhibited a higher ultimate tensile strength than a comparable physical mixture of starch and poly(vinyl alcohol).     

Cationic polymerization of α-methyl styrene from polydienes. II. Tensile properties of poly(butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) and poly(styrene-b-butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers

Tensile properties of poly(butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers have been investigated on molded samples. These graft copolymers show thermoplastic elastomer behavior because of their graft copolymer structure. Both modulus and strength increase with increasing α-methyl styrene content and tensile strength is highest at the 45–50% by weight α-methyl styrene level. Tensile strength at elevated test temperatures is considerably higher for these poly(butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers than for styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock polymers. This is attributed to the higher glass transition temperature for poly(α-methyl styrene) segments compared to polystyrene segments. The oil acceptance of these graft copolymers appears to depend on the number of loose polybutadiene chain ends. Thus, the tensile strength of oil-extended poly(butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers was considerably lower than oil-extended poly(styrene-b-butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers even though both copolymers contained equal hard segment contents.     

Particle flow and sintering processes in extrusion

The flow mechanism of particulate polymers during processing is reviewed. The extrusion of starch-g-poly(methyl acrylate) polymers is a good example of this type of processing, since graft copolymers retain their granular appearance and do not melt, even at high temperature, due to the rigid starch matrix. The formation of a continuous plastic by extrusion is accomplished by the sintering of heat-deformed granules in the high-pressure zone of the extruder die. Photomicrographs confirm this mode of formation. Plots of flow rate through the extruder die versus pressure in the die are presented. Tensile strengths and percent elongation of extruded specimens are not greatly affected by variations in flow rate. The equilibrium moisture content (about 5 percent) of starch-g-poly(methyl acrylate) plasticizes the starch component and thus reduces the operating pressure in the die. Tensile strengths, however, are unaffected by the presence of equilibrium moisture. Final traces of residual acid (resulting from initiator solution) are difficult to remove from starch-g-poly(methyl acrylate), and prolonged heating of the graft copolymer in the presence of this acid results in polymer degradation.     

Graft copolymers of polysaccharides with thermoplastic polymers. A new type of filled plastic

A series of starch graft copolymers and one cellulose graft copolymer were prepared containing 40-50 percent synthetic polymer. The monomers used (styrene, methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, and butyl acrylate) were chosen to give grafted synthetic polymers with varying glass transition temperatures (T_g). These graft copolymers were extruded, in the absence of any added thermoplastic homopolymer, to give strong, continuous polysaccharide-filled plastics which are biodegradable and which exhibit little or no die swell. Properties of plastics varied with the T_g of the thermoplastic portion. Starch-g-polystyrene and starch-g-poly(methyl methacrylate) were hard and brittle, while graft copolymers prepared from methyl and butyl acrylate were more flexible and leathery. The graft Uopolymers with lower T_g grafts required less torque and could be extruded at lower temperatures. In the methyl acrylate series, a graft copolymer prepared from gelatinized starch was more easily extruded than one prepared from granular starch, and addition of water produced a water-filled extrudate of excellent quality. The surprising feature of these results is that the matrix polymers, starch and cellulose, are rigid, nonsoftening materials. Grafting of a thermoplastic polymer to these matrix polymers would not be expected to give an extrudable product. The results are explained as powder flow followed by fusion or sintering of the graft polymers under the temperature and pressure conditions in the die.     

Modification of starch–poly(methyl acrylate) graft copolymers by steam jet cooking

Starch-g-poly(methyl acrylate) containing 12.3, 31.9, 51.7, and 58.3% PMA, by weight, were prepared by ceric ammonium nitrate-initiated polymerization of methyl acrylate onto granular cornstarch. The granular structures of these graft copolymers were not disrupted by steam jet cooking at 140°C. At most, only 13% of the polymer was dissolved, and this soluble fraction was comprised largely of starch. The probability of crosslinking within these graft copolymer granules was considered. Physical properties of extruded ribbons depended upon whether or not granular graft copolymers were jet cooked prior to extrusion. Although tensile strengths were not greatly affected by steam jet cooking, cooked samples showed significant increases in both percent elongation and tear resistance. The effects of jet cooking upon the properties of extruded ribbons can be explained by gelatinization of starch within the grafted starch granules. Although jet-cooked granules still remain intact, gelatinization of the starch moiety causes these granules to be less rigid, more deformable, and more easily plasticized by small amounts of water. Loss of starch crystallinity after steam jet cooking was proved by both differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:1021–1029, 1997     

Graft copolymers from commercial chlorinated polypropylene via Cu(0)‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization

Commercially available chlorinated polypropylene has been used as a macroinitiator for the Cu(0)‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and tert‐butyl acrylate to obtain well‐defined graft copolymers. The relatively narrow molecular weight distribution in the graft copolymers and linear kinetic plots indicated the controlled nature of the copolymerization reactions. Both Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR studies confirmed that the graft reactions had taken place successfully. After graft copolymer formation, tert‐butyl groups of poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) side chains were completely converted into poly(acrylic acid) chains to afford corresponding amphiphilic graft copolymers. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Starch-graft-poly(methyl acrylate) copolymer: the new approach to synthesis and copolymer characterization

The two-stage method for poly(methyl acrylate) grafting starch using triethylborane and 1,4-benzoquinone has been developed. The first stage was borylation of alcohol groups of starch. The second stage was polymerization of methyl acrylate in the inhibitor - 1,4-benzoquinone - presence accompanied by the S _H 2-substitution at the boron atom. The advantages of developed method were the homogeneity of the process, the high yield of graft-copolymer, the possibility to control of chain length of synthetic polymer, and the absence of homopolymer in the final product. The molecular weight characteristics of starch-graft-poly(methyl acrylate) copolymer was determined by gel-permeation chromatography. The evidence of the graft-copolymer formation was ¹¹B nuclear magnetic resonance data and its glass-transition temperature. The resulting graft-copolymer has an amphiphilic nature and a high thermal stability compared to the corresponding homopolymers (starch and poly(methyl acrylate)). According to the calculated values of the surface Gibbs energy the surface of starch-graft-poly(methyl acrylate) films is characterized as a high-energy surface.     

Synthesis of polyacrylamide with pendant poly(n‐octyl acrylate) chains using macromer technique and studies on their properties

An amphiphilic graft copolymer of polyacrylamide (PAM) with uniform poly(n‐octyl acrylate) (POA) grafts was synthesized by copolymerization of AM with POA macromer in solution using azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. The macromer was synthesized by free radical polymerization of octyl acrylate in the presence of different amounts of thioglycolic acid as the chain transfer agent, followed by termination with glycidyl methacrylate. The reactivity ratio and effects of copolymerization conditions on the conversion of macromer or grafting efficiency were studied. The crude products were purified by extraction with toluene and water successively. The purified graft copolymer was characterized by IR, DSC, and TEM. PAM‐g‐POA can bring about microphase separation and exhibits good emulsifying properties and water absorbency. PAM‐g‐POA exhibits a very good compatibilizing effect on the acrylic rubber/poly(vinyl chloride) blends. About 2–3% of the graft copolymer is enough for enhancing the tensile strength of the blends. The tensile strength of the blends is more than twice that without the compatibilizer. DSC and SEM demonstrated the enhancement of compatibility in the presence of the graft copolymer. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Characterization of a nylon 6/poly(methyl acrylate) copolymer produced by radiation grafting

Acrylic acid has been grafted onto nylon 6 by the mutual γ-irradiation technique. Methods are described for removing poly(acrylic acid) homopolymer and ungrfted nylon, the latter involving intermediate conversion to the calcium ionomer. The pure graft copolymer in its methylated form, viz., nylon 6/poly(methyl acrylate), NY/PMA, was characterized by light scattering in mixed solvents to yield the true molecular weight (3.2 × 10⁶) as well as the molecular weights M_PMA(domain) and M_NY(domain) of the PMA and NY portions, respectively. The molecular weight M_PMA of the grafts was measured after hydrolysis of the backbone, and the molecular weight M_NY of the backbone was determined via a previously devised indirect procedure. Comparisons of M_PMA(domain) with M_PMA and of M_NY(domain) with M_NY gave ? 7 nylon chains and ? 17 poly(methyl acrylate) chains per copolymer molecule. Chain transfer and bimolecular terminatin during grafting are proposed as probable contributory factors to the branched structure of the copolymer.     

Kinetics and mechanism of free radical grafting of methyl acrylate onto sago starch

The graft copolymerization was carried out by methyl acrylate with sago starch in which ceric ammonium nitrate was used as an initiator. It has been found that the rates of graft polymerization and grafting efficiency were dependent upon the concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), methyl acrylate (MA), sago starch (AGU, anhydro glucose unit), mineral acid (H₂SO₄), and as well as reaction temperature and period. A rate equation of polymerization was established from the proposed reaction mechanism, and the rate of polymerization (R_p) was the first‐order dependence of the MA monomer concentration and square root of the CAN concentration. A new kinetic model of the grafting reaction has been proposed, and a normal kinetics of methyl acrylate polymerization was observed. An equation of a predicted model relating the graft fraction of poly(methyl acrylate) with the sago starch has been derived, and validity of the predicted model was verified by the experimental results. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 784–791, 2000     

Biodegradation of starch and acrylic‐grafted starch by Aspergillus niger

The biodegradation of starch and grafted starch by Aspergillus niger was examined. The grafted polymers were poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA). Thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared, and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine the morphology and degradation degree of each material. The temperature of maximum decomposition for starch decreased as enzymatic degradation proceeded, and it was completed on the 8th day of culturing in a liquid medium. Grafted samples with PMMA and PBA achieved degradation of their starch moiety. PBA in starch‐g‐PBA samples hindered the accessibility of the enzymes to the degradable material, and this resulted in a longer degradation time. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2764–2770, 2003     

Properties of starch-graft-poly(glycidyl methacrylate)–PHBV composites

The use of graft copolymers of starch and glycidyl methacrylate (starch-g-PGMA) to improve the mechanical properties of composites with poly(hydroxy butyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) has been investigated. In general, the tensile and flexural strengths of the composites were greater with starch-g-PGMA compared to untreated starch and increased with increasing graft content. The modulus and elongation were not significantly changed by grafting. All samples gained weight after immersion in water for 28 days. Tensile strength and modulus decreased with water sorption, while the fracture toughness significantly increased with grafted starch. No differences were observed between properties of grafts prepared with ceric ammonium nitrate or ferrous sulfate–peroxide graft initiators. Scanning electron micrographs of cryogenic fracture surfaces showed improved adhesion between the starch-g-PGMA and the PHBV matrix. Although no spectroscopic evidence of reaction between PHBV and the starch-g-PGMA was found, the improvement in mechanical properties is consistent with enhanced interactions between the starch-g-PGMA and the PHBV matrix compared to ungrafted starch. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 1121–1127, 1998     

Orientation in acrylonitrile copolymers

Rubber modified and unmodified poly(acrylonitrile/methyl acrylate) (75/25) copolymers [(Barex^® resins) (Barex^® is a registered trademark of Vistron Corporation, a subsidiary of The Standard Oil Company, Ohio)] were stretched at varying strain rates at different temperatures. Molecular orientation of the stretched samples at different extension ratios was determined using birefringence, the X-ray orientation factor, and infrared dichroism. The birefringence of rubber modified copolymers, which were prepared by graft copolymerization of the poly(acrylonitrile/methyl acrylate) copolymer with 10 parts (by weight) of a poly(butadiene/acrylonitrile) rubber, is found to be appreciably different as compared with the birefringence of unmodified poly(acrylonitrile/methyl acrylate) copolymer. The possible reasons for this difference are discussed. The orientation measured from the three techniques is compared, and the effects of temperature of stretching and of strain to are discussed. The maximum values of the birefringence of these two copolymers and that of the polyacrylonitrile have been estimated. Transition moment angles for CH₂ and C?N stretching bonds are obtained. From the birefringence data at various temperatures and strain rates, the activation energies of these two copolymers have been obtained.     

淀粉基木材胶黏剂的制备与性能

以玉米淀粉为接枝骨架,过硫酸铵为引发剂,与接枝单体乙酸乙烯酯-丙烯酸丁酯进行接枝共聚反应,制取淀粉基木材胶黏剂。对得到的淀粉接枝共聚物进行了表征分析及性能研究。IR谱图表明,样品除了保持淀粉的特征吸收峰外,在1730—1740cm。之间出现了羰基特征吸收峰。X-粉末衍射图表明,样品多为弥散峰,证明淀粉接枝共聚物基本为少量结晶态与无定形态共存的结构。TG、DTA曲线证实了接枝共聚反应的发生,且淀粉接枝共聚物的热稳定性优于纯玉米淀粉。性能测试结果表明,制备的胶黏剂具有较好的高温稳定性、粘接性,各项指标已达到了国家标准HG／T2727—95中聚乙酸乙烯酯木材胶黏剂的性能指标,特别是压缩剪切干强度远远超过了国家标准。     

Effects of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate) on the properties and processing behavior of poly(vinyl chloride)

Random copolymers of methyl methacrylate/n-butyl acrylate with a BA content of 0–50% and M?_v = 0.16–4.04 × 10⁶ were synthesized and evaluated as a processing aid (PA) for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Their effects on the processability and properties of PVC were investigated with respect to the composition, molecular weight, and the amount of the copolymer added. It was found that the fusion rate of PVC could be improved (i) by increasing the amount of the copolymer used, (ii) by increasing the butyl acrylate content in the copolymer, and (iii) by lowering the molecular weight of the copolymer. The effect of molecular weight, composition, and amount of copolymer on the ultimate mechanical properties of PVC was investigated. The presence of copolymer did not affect the impact strength. However, the tensile strength and elongation at break were improved, particularly at high temperature (125°C). It was also found that the “plate out” phenomenon of PVC could be significantly reduced in the presence of the processing aid.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate)‐graft‐poly[(meth)acrylates] by atom transfer radical polymerization

The graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate onto poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate) with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was successfully carried out with copper(I) thiocyanate/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and copper(I) chloride/2,2′‐bipyridine as catalysts in the solvent N,N‐dimethylformamide. For methyl methacrylate, a kinetic plot of ln([M]₀/[M]) (where [M]₀ is the initial monomer concentration and [M] is the monomer concentration) versus time for the graft polymerization was almost linear, and the molecular weight of the graft copolymer increased with increasing conversion, this being typical for ATRP. The formation of the graft polymer was confirmed with gel permeation chromatography, ¹H‐NMR, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The glass‐transition temperature of the copolymer increased with the concentration of methyl methacrylate. The graft copolymer was hydrolyzed, and its swelling capacity was measured. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 183–189, 2005     

Graft polymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate onto hemicellulose

Graft polymerizations of acrylonitrile onto both a commercial larchwood hemicellulose and a purified (low lignin) wheat straw hemicellulose could be initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate. The resulting hemicellulose-g-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymers were fractionated by extraction at room temperature with dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide. Fractions were characterized by determining both the wt % PAN in each polymer fraction and the molecular weight of grafted PAN. Saponification of the PAN component of hemicellulose-g-PAN gave a water-dispersible graft copolymer with good thickening properties for water systems. An absorbent polymer, similar to the starch-based absorbents (Super Slurpers), was produced when saponified hemicellulose-g-PAN was isolated by methanol precipitation and then dried. Larchwood hemicellulose was also graft-polymerized with methyl acrylate using ceric ammonium nitrate initiation, and the hemicellulose-g-poly(methyl acrylate) was extrusion-processed into a tough, leathery plastic. Although ceric ammonium nitrate could be used as an initiator for graft polymerizations onto low-lignin hemicelluloses, it was inert with crude wheat straw hemicellulose containing 11% lignin. The ferrous sulfate–hydrogen peroxide redox system was used to initiate graft polymerizations onto this high-lignin material, and properties of the resulting hemicellulose-g-poly(methyl acrylate) and saponified hemicellulose-g-PAN graft copolymers were evaluated.     

Dynamic‐mechanical behavior of hydrophobic–hydrophilic interpenetrating copolymer networks

Sequential interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared by free‐radical polymerization. One of the components of the IPN was a poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) network, and the other one was a poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymer network. Dynamic‐mechanical experiments show that the IPNs are phase separated: two main α relaxations occur in all samples, the low temperature one corresponding to the PBA network and that appearing at higher temperature due to the copolymer network. The latter shows a shape analogous to a pure poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) network independently of the copolymer composition. The influence of water absorption on the dynamic‐mechanical spectrum shows that only a small amount of water reaches the butyl acrylate segments. The dependence of the mechanical behavior of the poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymer networks with the copolymer composition has been also analyzed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:930–937, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Interpenetrating polymer networks of castor oil polyester and poly(methyl methacrylate)

The physical and mechanical properties of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and semi-I IPNs of the castor oil polyester network and poly(methyl methacrylate) were investigated. In the semi-I IPNs, the second component was a copolymer of poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene (PS) or poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA). The dynamic mechanical properties indicated the semi-I IPNs to be more compatible than the IPNs. The degree of molecular mixing was higher than that for IPNs. The impact strength showed a gradual increase with the increase in the percentage of PS or PnBA in the copolymer. The effect of the copolymerization of the second component on transparency was investigated. The transparency of the semi-I IPNs increased with the increasing composition of PnBA, but reduced with the increasing composition of PS. These results are discussed in light of existing theories.