skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Synthesis of ethylene-propylene rubber graft copolymers by borane approach

Journal Article · · Macromolecules; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ma00079a004· OSTI ID:5436963
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

This paper describes a new method to prepare graft copolymers which have an EP rubber backbone and several free radical polymerized polymers grafted thereto. The process involves hydroboration of commercial EPDM rubbers, such as poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-1,4-hexadiene) and poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-5-ethylidene-2-norbornene), with 9-borabicyclononane (9-BBN). The resulting secondary alkyl-9-BBN moieties in the EPDM copolymer were then exposed to oxygen in the presence of free radical polymerizable monomers. Under certain conditions, the selective autoxidation reaction of secondary alkyl-9-BBN took place to create desirable polymeric radicals which can in situ initiate free radical polymerization. High graft efficiency was observed with controllable copolymer compositions. The graft copolymer of EP-g-PMMA is used to show the chemistry as well as some of the physical properties.

OSTI ID:
5436963
Journal Information:
Macromolecules; (United States), Vol. 27:1; ISSN 0024-9297
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English