| Abstract: | In this article, the physical‐mechanical properties and processability of graft‐modified highly chlorinated polyethylene (HCPE; chlorine contents: ≥ 60%) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) by mechanochemistry reaction were studied. The results showed that the HCPE‐g‐MMA system is superior to unmodified HCPE in physical‐mechanical properties, particularly in processability. In addition, the HCPE‐g‐MMA system, with about 62% chlorine content, was the same as PVC in its physical‐mechanical properties. The HCPE‐g‐MMA system, with about 65.5% chlorine content, is the same as chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC) in its physical‐mechanical properties, except that the Vicat softening temperature and processability of HCPE‐g‐MMA system are superior to PVC and CPVC. Compared with PVC and CPVC, the HCPE‐g‐MMA system proves better due to its lack of a toxic monomer. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 282–287, 2004 |
