Synthesis and characterization of graft copolymers of acrylic acid onto poly vinyl chloride using di-(2-phenoxy ethyl) peroxy dicarbonate initiator

Graft copolymerization of acrylic acid onto Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) was carried out in nitrobenzene using di-(2-phenoxy ethyl) peroxy dicarbonate as an initiator. The effect of various parameters such as initiator, monomer concentrations, reaction temperature and time on percent grafting was examined. The graft copolymers were characterized by Viscosity, Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and Thermogravimetry (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The thermal stability of graft copolymers increased whereas intrinsic viscosity decreased as percent grafting was increased. Maximum grafting of 3.0% was obtained. The activation energy and collision frequency factor for graft copolymerization was found to be 4.54 Kcal/mol and 0.8788 X 10(2), respectively.