Strategies for improving graft degree of urethane derivative of 2‐hydroxymethyl methacrylate grafted onto LDPE

A novel monomer, 2‐methyl‐acrylic acid 2‐(3‐isocyanato‐2‐methyl‐phenyl carbamoyloxy)‐ethyl ester (HT), was synthesized by the reaction of 2‐hydroxymethyl methacrylate with toluene diisocyanate. The influences of solvents, temperature and catalyst, dibutyl tin dilaurate on the total yield of HT were investigated and theoptimum synthesis conditions were obtained. The obtained monomer was then used to modify low density polyethylene (LDPE) in the Haake Rheomix 600P via melt grafting copolymerization. The modified LDPE was characterized by Fourier transform infrared. During the grafting process, single‐step and two‐step procedures were compared and the results showed that the two‐step procedure was more favorable. In a two‐step procedure, the influences of melting temperatures, monomer amount, and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA, M_n = 800–1200) on the graft degree were also investigated. The investigation confirmed that EVA acting as a dispersant could enhance the dispersion of the monomer and improve graft degree significantly, and net value of increased graft degree was about 1.5%. The better dispersion of HT in the matrix of LDPE was confirmed via scanning electron microscope after adding EVA to the system. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers