Kinetics of radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene with ethyl acrylate

The radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene with ethyl acrylate onto preirradiated polyethylene powder was carried out at 200C. The grafting yield decreased in the following order: ethyl acrylate >> styrene > styrene--ethyl acrylate mixture. On the other hand, the amount of absorption of liquid monomers in polyethylene powder decreased as follows: styrene > styrene--ethyl acrylate mixture > ethyl acrylate. By kinetic analysis of the grafting yield and amount of absorption of monomers it was elucidated that the value K/sub p//K/sub t/ in an ethyl acrylate system (7.7 x 10-2) was much larger than those in styrene--ethyl acrylate systems and in a styrene system (ca. 1.0 x 10-2). 5 figures, 2 tables