Free Radical Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate onto Polyolefin Backbone: Kinetics Modeling through Model Compounds Approach

The grafting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) from poly [ethylene-co-(1-octene)] in the molten state by in situ radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was investigated through a kinetic modeling using a model compound approach. We resorted to pentadecane (C15H32) and 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane (Squalane, C30H62) as models for both the copolymer ethylene and octene moieties. The attention was focused on the simulation of MMA conversion and PMMA average polymerization degree according to temperature, reaction time, and initiator ratio required for the polymerization of MMA in the presence of alkoxyl radicals and alkanes.