Styrene-assisted acrylic acid grafting onto polypropylene surfaces: preparation, characterization, and an automatically latex-coagulating application

This work aimed to modify the polypropylene (PP) surface by grafting with acrylic acid (AA) monomer in toluene solution using styrene (ST) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as comonomer and initiator, respectively, for potential application as an automatically latex-coagulating cup. The grafting percentage of PP-g-PAA was slightly increased with increasing time of surface activation, grafting reaction time, and concentrations BPO and AA. Interestingly, the presence of ST comonomer significantly improved the grafting percentage of AA onto PP sheets (PP-g-P(ST-co-AA)) and its ion exchange capacity from 5.76 to 25% and 8.87 x 10(-5) to 43.1 x 10(-5) meq/g, respectively. This indicated that the incorporation of ST could significantly enhance the grafting reaction of AA onto the PP surfaces. The possible mechanism of grafting reaction was also described and demonstrated. Besides, the PP-g-P(ST-co-AA)25 exhibited high coagulum performance of natural rubber latex (NRL) of 93.8% and high NRL coagulation rate of 63.5% %/h. Thus, the grafted PP with ST/AA monomers as an automatically latex-coagulating cup/container could offer not only the lower production cost and lesser environmental problems but also improved properties, qualities, and price of cup lump products.

Automated summary

This study aimed to modify the polypropylene (PP) surface by grafting with acrylic acid (AA) monomer, using styrene (ST) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as comonomer and initiator, respectively, in toluene solution, for potential application as an automatically latex-coagulating cup. The presence of ST comonomer significantly improved the grafting percentage of AA onto PP sheets (PP-g-P(ST-co-AA)), as well as its ion exchange capacity. The grafted PP with ST/AA monomers exhibited high coagulum performance and coagulation rate of natural rubber latex (NRL).