| Abstract: | Transesterification may be used to crosslink a copolymer such as ethylene vinyl acetate with poly(ethylene acrylate-co-propylene) in the presence of dibutyltin oxide as a catalyst. A rheological study of the mechanism of this exchange reaction has been made: The kinetics of the crosslinking reaction was determined by studying the time and temperature dependence of the dynamic storage modulus G′(t, T)ω. Kinetic curves obtained for different reactive blends (EVA, PP/EVA, and PPf/EVA) allowed for the evaluation of the activation energy of the reaction and, thus, specified the appropriate parameters (temperature and time) for carrying out this reaction in a molten state. |
