Summary: In this paper, the grafting of a hindered amine stabilizer (HAS) is studied in isotactic poly(propylene) (PP) films under γ‐irradiation. The HAS used has a definite structure that combines a hindered amine functionality and a UV‐absorbing unit (benzylidene malonate ester group) detectable at 308 nm in the UV spectrum of PP film and 314 nm in chloroform. The stabilizer is added to the polymer at various concentration ratios: 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt.‐%. The percentage of HAS grafting in the PP film at various additive concentrations is determined as a function of γ‐radiation dose in the range of 0–100 kGy by direct spectroscopic measurements through the absorption band of the stabilizer in the UV spectra of the PP film. The percentage of free HAS extracted with chloroform from the PP film versus the radiation dose is determined by UV spectroscopy for all the additive concentrations used. This study reveals that only 80% of the HAS is grafted on the 100 kGy irradiated PP matrix independent of the additive concentration used. However, the percentage of HAS grafted on PP films displays an exponential dependence on γ‐radiation dose. These results are consistent with the data obtained on the free HAS content. γ‐Irradiation grafting of HAS in the PP is accompanied by the oxidative degradation of the polymer substrate that is evaluated by increasing the carbonyl index and reducing significantly the oxidation induction time of the PP films.
The percentage of hindered amine stabilizer grafted to the PP film as a function of γ‐radiation dose.
