Radiation-induced grafting polymerization of MMA onto polybutadiene rubber latex

Jing Peng (a), Maolin Wang (a), Jinliang Qiao (b) and Genshuan Wei (a)

(a) Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
(b) SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Beijing 100013, PR China

Abstract

The grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto polybutadiene rubber latex by the direct radiation method was carried out. The effects of monomer concentration, absorbed dose and dose rate of gamma rays on the grafting yield were investigated. The graft copolymers were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. TEM photographs revealed that the core–shell structures of latex particles are formed at low MMA content, and with the increasing of MMA content, the semi-IPN-like structure with core–shell could be developed due to the high gel fraction of polybutadiene (PBD) seed particles. In addition, infrared analysis confirmed that MMA could be grafted onto PBD molecular chains effectively under appropriate irradiation conditions. The interfacial adhesion between PBD rubber (core) and PMMA (shell) phases could be enhanced with the increase of MMA concentration.

The writer can be reach by email : gswei@pku.edu.cn