KINETICS OF RADIATION-INDUCED GRAFT CO-POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE WITH ETHYL ACRYLATE

In the reported experiments, the radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene with ethyl acrylate onto preirradiated polyethylene powder was carried out at 20 degree C. The grafting yield decreased in the following order: ethyl acrylate greater than greater than styrene greater than styrene-ethyl acrylate mixture. On the other hand, the amount of absorption of liquid monomers in polyethylene powder decreased as follows: styrene greater than styrene-ethyl acrylate mixture greater than ethyl acrylate. By kinetic analysis of the grafting yield and amount of absorption of monomers it was elucidated that the value K//p/K//t in an ethyl acrylate system (7. 7 multiplied by 10** minus **2) was much larger than those in styrene-ethyl acrylate systems and in a styrene system (ca. 1. 0 multiplied by 10** minus **2).